The police yesterday arrested six members of a kidnapping syndicate that has been terrorising residents of Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State and its environs.
A major importer in Aba, Chief B.A Okoye, kidnapped by the gang last Thursday was rescued.
Commissioner of Police Anthony Ogbizi and the command’s spokesman, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Geoffrey Ogbonna were yet to respond to text messages sent to their phones at the time of this report.
A source within the command, who confirmed that the six members of the gang sustained injuries during gun duel at their hideouts, said the suspects have been transferred to the State Headquarters, Umuahia.
The source said the gang members were apprehended at Okpuloumuobo in Osisioma and Eberi Omuma in Local Governments respectively through an intelligence report while negotiating the ransom for the release of their victim.
It was learnt that the hoodlums on sighting the police engaged them in a gun duel and was later being overpowered.
Other members of the gang who might have sustained bullet wounds fled the scene.
Sources within Cameroun road area where the kidnap victim lives with his family told our reporter that some members of the victim’s family had earlier this year been kidnapped by a kidnapping syndicate and were reunited with their family after they parted with undisclosed ransom.
Following intelligence reports, IRT operatives of the police deployed by IGP Ibrahim Idris swung into action and eventually arrested 2 of the Kidnappers in Aba town who took the Combined team of IRT Operatives and CPS Aba Police Personnel To the Kidnappers Camp at Okpu Umuobo Area Of Aba Town where the rented 3 bedrooms House used for keeping Victims by the Kidnappers was raided and the ailing victim, Mr Benjamin Okoye, who was hypertensive was kept without his Drugs.
The Six Kidnap suspects arrested are:
1) Chinonye Anoro 26yrs,
2) Prince Sylvester (35yrs) owner and Driver of the Operational Bus used for 8 Kidnappings in Aba,
3) Kingsley Papa (45yrs)
4) Ugbonabo Danjuma (43yrs) Gangleader,
5) Moses Clever 31yrs and
6) Ogoro James 26yrs.
All the Suspects Confessed to involvement in several kidnapping within Aba and other parts of Abia State.
Four of the 6 Kidnappers further confessed that they formed their gang from the Prison and as they came out from Prison this October they recruited others and started Kidnapping.
