The Ebonyi State Police Command yesterday confirmed the killing of two kidnap and armed robbery suspects during a shoot between men of the command and some hoodlums.
The command also confirmed the arrest of three other suspects who had been terrorising residents of Abakaliki, the state capital and environs.
Briefing journalists in Abakaliki, the police commissioner, Sunday Falaye, gave the names of the arrested suspects as Nnachi Cyprian ‘m’ 35 years, Anthony Onoaha ‘m’ 34 years and Ndubuisi Okeagu, 35 years.
He said they took the operatives to another hideout at Umuoghara Ezza North LGA, and on sighting the operatives the gang opened fire but were overpowered by the police.
He stated that a gang member was killed and a suspect, Ikechukwu Oduma who led the operatives to the hideout, sustained bullet injuries and was rushed to hospital for treatment but was confirmed dead by a medical doctor on duty.
He said all the suspects are still undergoing interrogation/investigations.
CP Falaye also said on the 16th of May, 2023 at about 10pm, a kidnap victim, one Uguru Chiduebere was driving along Chiboy Junction Abakaliki with his Toyota Camry car when he was intercepted by gunmen who started shooting sporadically into the air to scare passersby.
He said the gunmen abducted the victim to an unknown destination, adding that the kidnappers contacted his family demanding a ransom of N3 million.
“The same day, intelligence-led investigation which facilitated the release of the victim led police operatives to their hideout at a forest behind Ebonyi Airport Onueke, Ezza South, where the victim was rescued, his car recovered and the ring leader, one Chinedu Ikpeozu, was arrested, while other members of the gang are at large”, he added.
