The Imo State Police Command has rescued a mother and her four children who were abducted in their estate by suspected gunmen operating in the state.
The victims included Mrs Odika who happens to be the wife of Mr Obinna Odika of Human Race Estate Naze Imo State and his three female children namely; 27-year-old Chinenye Odika, 9-year-old Chika Mark Odika, Chisom Mark Odika aged 14, and 6 months old baby Princess Odika.
The Commissioner of Police in Imo State, CP Hussiani Rabiu, in a statement issued on Monday by the Command Public Relations Officer, CSP Michael Abatham, said that their rescue followed a report by Mr Obinna Odika of Human Race Estate Naze in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, informing police about the kidnap of his wife and children.
The CP said that the Imo State command’s Control Room immediately alerted of the incident, disseminated the report to all the police formations and tactical units for prompt interception and arrest of the kidnappers.
He said that luck ran against the kidnappers, when the Ngor Okpala police Division Patrol Team, on receipt of the report, intensified its patrols and in the process intercepted and arrested three members of the kidnapping gang.
The suspected gang members included a 38 years old Udochukwu Edmund of Umuezu Onitsha Ezinihitte in Mbaise LGA of Imo State, Uba Edmund age 45 years of the same address, John Okoroafor age 33 years of Amucha Isu Njaba LGA of Imo State, who have been handed over to the Command’s Anti-kidnapping unit for diligent investigation.
The CP said that on interrogation the suspects confessed to the crime and led the Tactical Teams to their hideout in a forest in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State.
On sighting the police according to the Police Boss, the gunmen fired at the police but the police retaliated and during the gun duel, one of the kidnappers was neutralised while two others were arrested with bullet injuries.
CP Rabiu disclosed that one pump action gun, three locally made Pistols, fourteen rounds of live cartridges and three hundred and sixty-one thousand naira (#361,000.00), suspected to be part of the ransom money collected, were recovered from the hideout.
Also recovered are one sea blue coloured Sienna vehicle with registration number IMO STATE, WER 969 ZE and a motorcycle with registration number KWE 310 QX used by the suspects in kidnapping the victims.
On further interrogation according to CP, the arrested suspects revealed where the kidnapped victims were kept and led tactical teams of the command to Central Primary School, Mbutu Okeohia in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State, where the five kidnapped victims were rescued safe, unhurt and had been reunited with their families.
He disclosed that the two injured suspects were taken to the Federal Medical Centre Owerri, for medical treatment, while efforts were on to arrest the remnants of the syndicate for prosecution.
The CP commended the quick response of the command’s officers and men on the gallantry exhibited in the rescue of the kidnapped victims.
He advised the people of Imo State to always report incidents promptly to the police for the timely intervention of the Command’s Quick Response Units.
He also called on Imolites to assist the Command with credible information and to report any suspicious activity observed within their environment to the nearest police station.
