By Emmanuel Ndukuba
Police in Anambra State have rescued four men abducted on March 8 by dare devil kidnappers.
Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga made the disclosure in a statement on Saturday.
He said that the police, while on patrol and snap checks with the local vigilante, intercepted the kidnappers along Amagu- Awgbu Road in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state as they were heading towards an exit route from the state.
According to him, the gang, which opened fire sporadically on sighting the patrol team, bowed to Police-Vigilante superior firepower and two of the three vehicles the gang operated with were demobilised.
“While remnant of the gang escaped in the third vehicle, other gangsters fled into the bush on foot with bullet wounds. One Pump Action Gun was recovered during the encounter.
“Also recovered were two SUVs – One 2017 edition of Toyota Highlander with Reg No. Abuja GWA 141 KZ and one Mercedes Benz GLK 350 4Matic with Registration Number Anambra AGU 242 NQ.
“Preliminary enquiry revealed that the number plates on the Mercedes Benz SUV were issued to a Toyota Sienna Spacewagon vehicle.
“Four abducted victims were rescued unhurt from the gang. Preliminary debriefing to ascertain circumstances of their abduction are ongoing,” Ikenga said.
He said the Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, who described the rescue of the victims as heroic, has commended the effective collaboration between Police and Vigilante across the State.
Adeoye emphasised that once the protection of the citizenry is the focus, Police will work seamlessly with all relevant stakeholders to eradicate all vestiges of threat that may be confronting the people.
The Commissioner of Police has directed that the case be transfered to Anti Kidnapping Unit in Awkuzu.
“He has mandated the unit to deploy its expertise in tracking down gang members who escaped the onslaught at Awgbu and bring them to justice,” Ikenga said.
