By Kamsi Anayo
At least nine kidnapping suspects terrorizing Anambra East and Anambra West, two agrigarian riverine councils of the state have been arrested.
Dr Innocent Chidumebi Okonkwo,
a community leader in Aguleri town in Anambra East Local Government Area of state, while confirming the arrest, said the kidnapping and robbery gang which usually operate at Aguleri junction are already at Otuocha police station.
He took to his Facebook wall to break the news, saying that the 9-man suspected armed robbery and kidnap gang who operated in Aguleri junction and Nsugbe axis has been smashed by the joint security task operatives comprising the Aguleri vigilante group, Anam vigilante and Police operatives.
He added that one of the suspects died at the scene while the remaining eight suspects sustained various degrees of injuries.
He said the criminal gang camped in Anam, Anambra West and specialised in kidnapping wealthy men in Aguleri and its environs.
“The gang members operated mainly along Aguleri junction and killed a vigilante member in Eziagulu Aguleri community last week.
“The aggrieved Aguleri vigilante group and police operatives joined forces with Anam vigilante in the operation.
“The criminal gang comprises of indigenes of Nnewi, and Anam in Anambra state. Other suspects are indigenes of Ebonyi state and Tiv In Benue state.
“Four AK47, 3 SUV, human skeletons, pump actions, mobile phones and other properties belonging to different persons kidnapped by members of the gang as well as cartridges, were recovered from the suspects.
“One of the members of the vigilante group, an Indigene of Anam sustained bullet wound in the operation and has been moved to an undisclosed hospital for treatment,” Okonkwo said.
As at the time of filing this report, police authorities in Anambra were yet to react to the incident.
The arrested suspects are currently at Otuocha police station and would be transferred to state CID, Awka soon.
