Police smash kidnap gangs in Enugu state

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ekechukwu Nwodibo, who announced this on at a news conference on Wednesday in Enugu, said two cars, guns, handsets and a fake army ID card were recovered from them.

Nwodibo said that the feat was achieved through careful planning after a tip off and warned criminal elements to steer clear of the state.

“Enugu State is a no-go area for all criminals and that any criminal that manages to succeed, we will pursue him swiftly, decisively and zealously until we hunt him or her down.

“We are putting behind us the misdeeds of some few elements, who try to cause anxiety.

“You will recall that one Barrister (John) Abugu was kidnapped in front of his house; you will recall that one Mrs (Jane) Ekweremadu was kidnapped at Agric. Bus-stop around Independence Layout.

“You will recall that one Mrs Sandra Onu was equally kidnapped around there. And of course, there was another victim, Dr Brooks (Okwara).

“Our promise to the people of Enugu State is that any criminal that manages to succeed; we will use professional skills and expertise to make sure that he accounts for his misdeeds and that is what we have precisely done.

“So, yesterday, the leader of this dangerous gang and some of his members were ambushed by our men in a carefully planned operation somewhere at Uyo in Akwa Ibom State.

“When they discovered that our men were closing in on them; they opened fire on them and of course in the ensuing exchange they were gunned down.”

The commissioner said the syndicates also kidnapped Elder Edwin Chime on April 2 from his house and took him away in a Volkswagen car with registration number DWK 929 PP.

He said that the suspects snatched the car from its owners at Umunede in Delta State, adding that they had confessed to the crime.