Police K!ll Six Members Of Kidnapping Gang In Abia, Rescue Four Victims

Personnel of Abia Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), have killed six members of a kidnapping gang operating in the state.

This is even as the governor of the state, Dr. Alex Otti vowed the state government will not leave any inch of the state to criminals.

The governor who stated this at the Banquet Hall of the State Government House on Friday evening during a press conference where the state Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa presented four of the rescued victims to him, also promised undisclosed cash reward to the police tactical team members that embarked on the operation.

Otti who commended the bravery of the police tactical teams assured residents and investors of their safety and the safety of their businesses and investments.

The governor who ordered the demolition of the bungalow where the victims were kept, also ordered the landlord of the building be fished out.

He also directed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to meet with traditional rulers in the area where the incident happened. This is as he (Otti) noted that traditional ruler, who is the chief security officer of his domain would not claim ignorance of the activities of such individuals in his community.

Otti, while reaffirming that he administration would continue to secure every part of the state, also disclosed that the state was planning to construct and equip a modern security and command center in the state.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Police, Isa disclosed that the combined police tactical team members neutralised the six members of the kidnapping gang operating in the state at Osokwa in Osisioma local government area of the state after they were overpowered in a shootout.

The state police boss who disclosed that the kidnap gang kidnapped the victims along New Umuahia road, said that the police rescued the four male victims unhurt.

CP Isa who disclosed that victims were rescued by his men through the help of modern technology provided for them by the governor of the state, stated that the combined police team also recovered three AK-47 and 32 rounds of ammunition.

He disclosed that some other members of the gang escaped with bullet wounds in the heat of the shooting between his men and the gang members.

Speaking, one of the victims said that the gunmen double crossed them and whisked them away to an unknown destination on a gunpoint.

The victim who disclosed that their captors starved them since March 9, that they were kidnapped, further disclosed that they were kept in an air-tight room, also hinted that they were forced to part with their phones and other valuables, including cash that they transferred to them.

He thanked the police for swinging into action to save them from the hands of their captors.

“On Friday (today) after praying, we heard gun shots and while we were wondering what was happening, police came into the room and rescued us.”