‘The suspects were arrested in a thick forest in Lokpanta in Abia State and they are all from Lokpanta in Umunneochu LGA of Abia State’
By Nweze Anaga, Abakaliki
Police in Ebonyi State have arrested nine kidnap suspects and rescued their victim, Mrs. Charity Igwe, unhurt.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Ebonyi State, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the incident in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
She stated that the operatives of the Command acting on credible information rescued the kidnapped victim, Charity Igwe, unhurt while nine suspects were arrested in connection of the kidnap and killing of INEC staff.
She explained that the suspects were arrested in a thick forest in Lokpanta in Abia State and they are all from Lokpanta in Umunneochu LGA of Abia State.
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Some Items recovered from them, according to her include MP3, various handsets and gang pictures.
Her words: “Operatives of the Command acting on credible information rescued the kidnapped victim Charity Igwe unhurt whose kidnap was unveiled during investigation.
“Nine suspects were arrested from a thick forest in Lokpanta in Abia State and they are all from Lokpanta in Umunneochu LGA of Abia State.
“Items recovered are MP3, various handsets and gang pictures.”
Also ,the Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Hon. Emmanuel Ajah, confirmed the arrest of the suspects, who were allegedly involved in the killing of INEC staff, the late Emmanuel Igwe, along Ishiagu-Mpu road last Sunday.
Recall that the suspects abducted the wife of the victim and killed the father of Ohanaeze youth leader, Mr. Ajah Okeafor, who was harvesting yams on his farmland.
Ajah, while addressing journalists in Abakaliki, pointed out that Igwe’s wife was rescued unhurt after paying a ransom to the kidnappers recently.
The chairman further stated that the kidnappers were apprehended with the joint security agencies who overpowered them.
“The kidnappers who killed INEC staff last Sunday and abducted his wife, and also butchered the father of Ohanaeze youth leader, Ajah Okeafor, have been arrested,” he said.
He further disclosed that the kidnappers were caught with Fulani herdsmen and some bad boys from the Lonkpanta community and were tracked after collecting the ransom.
“We didn’t sleep since that incident happened. The kidnappers demanded ransom, and we gave it to them. We tracked them to their hideout through the joint efforts of the security agencies and my men.
“We have apprehended nine of them, and we are still searching for the remaining two, who are the major kingpin,” he added.
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