The Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Imo State Police Command has arrested one Anosike Chimaobi “male” of Umuedo Obohia, in the Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of the state in connection with the murder of Ahmed Gulak, burning of the Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Ihitte-Uboma and Obowo police stations in the state.
Michael Abattam – (CSP) the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), who paraded the suspect on behalf of the commissioner of police, Mohammed Barde before newsmen in Owerri said that Chimaobi who later confessed to the kidnap of one Jude Nwahiri, at Eke Nguru junction, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area was equally involved in the attack and murder of many police officers and collection of their rifles.
The police image maker listed exhibits recovered from the suspect to include: one locally made pistol with two rounds of live ammunitions, one Biafran Flag, one IPOB, ESN War flag and 30 war cutlasses.
Abattam also named four suspects who he said are members of the outlawed IPOB/ESN but who claimed to be unknown gunmen terrorising Oru East, Oru West and the state as a whole.
“They are among the syndicates that burnt and attacked the palace of Dr. George Obiozor, the chairman of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo on 19th March this year,” he said.
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He added that the same syndicate kidnapped a foreign-based philanthropist- Okoro (Jnr) “male” of Ubachima, Awo- Omamma, Oru East Council Area when the victim visited his home town, shared palliatives and empowered some youths.
According to Abattam, a ransom of N1million was collected by the hoodlums before they released the victim while his police orderly- one Inspector Ado Ibrahim of 43 PMF, was murdered by the hoodlums.
Abattam said that the suspects having committed the offence ran to Lagos State before the operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit strategised and apprehended them, even as they confessed to be members of IPOB/ESN, kidnapping, armed robbery and murder of the police officer.
Shedding more lights on the police efforts to stem terrorism, kidnapping and armed robbery in the state, Abattam said that upon the receipt of credible intelligence that some members of IPOB/ESN had perfected plan to kidnap a Japan-based Nigerian who visited his home town Umutei Mgbele Oguta Local Government Area, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit swiftly swung into action, foiled the kidnap when the terrorist appeared on security officers’ uniform.
The potential victim, he said was saved from being kidnapped while the hoodlums resorted to robbing the people they got at the vicinity.
Other three suspects namely Chigaemezu Esokwa aged 24 “male” of Logara in the Ngor Okpala Council Area; Kelvin Afoku aged 21 “m” of Umuoma Nekede-Owerri West LGA and Munachi Umunnawuike aged (26 years) of Umuanuma Aboh Mbaise LGA arrested for terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery/murder had all volunteered statements, confessed to the crime of armed robberies within the Naze Timber market and its environs with a number of exhibits recovered from them.
