The Rivers State Police Command on Thursday said its operative have arrested 18 suspected kidnappers and rescued seven victims, who were abducted in various parts of the state.
The Punch reports that the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Francis Odesanya, who paraded some of the hoodlums in Port Harcourt, stated that the kidnappers who did not want to surrender were overpowered in a shoot by security operatives in one of their hideouts in Ubima.
The Police Commissioner also said that over 20 suspected cultists were arrested in some parts of the state within the past one month.
The CP identified one Mr. Okechukwu Njoku as one of the kidnapped victims, who regained their freedom during security operatives’ shootout with the hoodlums.
According to the CP Njoku was kidnapped on July 29, 2016 and was rescued at Mercy Land in Port Harcourt after a protracted gun duel with kidnappers, adding that two of the hoodlums were apprehended during the operation.
The CP added that six hostages were rescued in a forest in Ubima by policemen, who acted on a tip-off.
“The Command’s Anti-kidnapping Unit arrested one Chukwuemeka and Eluwakwe Nwato and two others for their involvement in the kidnap of a 13-old-girl who was kidnapped from her home in Egberu, Afam Community, Oyigbo.
“Again, men of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, based on credible intelligence, rescued some hostages, who were abducted along Elele-Owerri Road. The police had a fierce gun battle with the hoodlums, but overpowered them and rescued the hostages,” Odesanya said.
Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.
Leave a reply