POLICE ARREST SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS, RECOVER SEVEN VEHICLES IN EBONYI
Police in Ebonyi State have arrested five suspects who specialize in kidnapping and snatching of cars in Abakaliki.
The Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr. Sola Awotinde, made this known while briefing journalists on the exploits of the Command under Operation Puff Adder at Police Headquarters Abakaliki.
Parading the suspects, Mr. Awotinde explained that they had on May 8, 2019 abducted a lawyer at gunpoint in front of his house in Abakaliki.
The Police Commissioner stated that the victim was rescued at Ukwuachi axis of the Enugu Abakaliki Highway while the kidnappers made away with his Toyota Corolla Car, a mobile phone and some amount of money.
The Police boss said the suspects were later arrested by Puff Adder Operatives after one of them, who gave his name as Chibueze Okpara, was tracked down at Nkwegu Mammy market.
“Investigation took the policemen to Enugu State where the kidnappers and their kingpin were arrested at different locations. Their names are Chinedu Okorie, Chibuzor Onyia Onuigbo, Emmanuel Agbo and the receiver of stollen cars, Taoreed Folawewo while items recovered from them include seven cars, one locally made revolver pistol and two live AK 47 ammunition,” he said.
Mr. Awotinde said Puff Adder Operatives also arrested other fifteen suspects for armed banditry, illegal possession of firearms, vandalism, cultism and alleged killing of one Friday Irem in Umuezali Orizor in Ezza North Local Government Area and Ifeanyi Alegu at Onueke in Ezza South Local Government Area of the State.
“On 1st of June this year in what appeared to be reprisal attack by rival cult group, one Ifeanyi Alegu also known as Bruno was traced and murdered at Onueke. The corpse was recovered and deposited in a mortuary and the perpetrators who were later identified as AYES and VIKINGS confraternity members arrested,”the Commissioner pointed out.
However, mild drama ensued between two of the suspects as they disagree with each other on their level of involvement in the kidnapping and car snatching crimes.
“I am Chinedu Okorie, a Minister at Light of Church Ministry, I was owed four hundred thousand Naira by Chibuzor Onuigbo and I collected a car from Chibuzor in place of my money, I did not know it was a snatched car.
But the other suspect argued “My name is Chibuzor Onuigbo, I am a politician, Chinedu gave me phone and police tracked me with the phone and I gave Police Chinedu’ s number and they arrested him”
Arms recovered from the suspects include nine locally made long gun, one English Barreta Pistol, One GPMG riffle mouth, six English Pump Action and two locally made pistol.
The Commissioner of Police said the suspects would be arraigned in court after investigations.
AMECHI ODO