Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have rescued one of kidnapped victims and arrested three of the gang members suspected to be members of the ESN/OUTLAWED IPOB group after engaging them armed men in a gun battle.
Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng in a press statement revealed that on 27/4/2023 by 7:50 pm, the forward operating base FOB Aguata while on stop and search duty at Afor Nnobi road intercepted two vehicles, one unmarked brown Lexus jeep and a black Prado Jeep with Reg Nos. GWA 696 CM, Abuja,.
He said the occupants of the vehicle who refuse to stop when police flag them down, started shooting sporadically to escape police screening.
"Their names include Hyicent Ujwuika aged 45 years, Sunday Samuel Akpan aged 31 years and Chinonso Offor aka Wolf aged 24 years." he noted.
He said, the operatives recovered three AK47s, two Cell phones, two Bulletproof vests, two Walking talkies, one Police uniform (camouflage), three AK47 Magazines, one hundred and twenty Live ammunition, one Police belt, one Hand glove, a pair of Police boots, two Police caps, one military T-shirt and one blue police uniform.
While other gang members escaped the scene, the suspects now in custody, confessed to being members of the outlawed ESN/IPOB groups and mentioned the various camps/criminal hideouts where, they operate. Efforts are already emplaced to arrest other fleeing gang members.
It would be recall that the command on 20th February 2023 declared one Emeh Nnamdi Daniel, 26years old wanted, a youth corp member serving in the police command, on allegations of unlawful possession of firearms, money laundering, and defamation of character, fraud and impersonation, he is in custody.
Echeng added that the suspect, Nnamdi Emeh flee the country to the Benin Republic before he was arrested by INTERPOL operatives. Nnamdi also hacked into one of Mr Chibuike Martins Ekwueme's accounts and fraudulently transferred a total sum of Forty-seven million Naira only #47,000,000 to his fourteen (14) different accounts owned by him Nnamdi E. The case is already before the federal high court.
"My assurance is that the Command under my watch shall continue to evolve strategies, which involve improving operational positioning and engaging with the community leaders, youth groups, and other stakeholders for an inclusive community safety base. I also wish to reiterate our commitment to maintaining law and order within the State, and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of all citizens. We urge the public to support us by providing us with timely information and reporting any suspicious activities in their communities to us," he stated.