From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
Two suspected kidnappers were, on Tuesday evening, killed by security operatives during a gunfire exchange at Ichida community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Aderemi Adeoye, at a press conference at the police command headquarters in Amawbia, said his men stormed the area when they got a distress call that the kidnappers and the Anambra State Vigilance operatives were exchanging gunfire in the area.
He said the security operatives were able to neutralise two of the kidnappers and rescued a woman they had already kidnapped.
Adeoye, who disclosed that the incident happened around Ichida Bus Stop, along Ichida – Igboukwu Expressway, at about 8:13pm, said the joint security operatives recovered one Ak47 rifle, two pump action guns, two Ak47 magazines, 32 live ammunition and one Toyota Highlander SUV belonging to the victim. He said preliminary information revealed that the deadly gang of eight operating with two vehicles – a grey Toyota Highlander SUV and a white Lexus 350 – abducted the victim who drove in her ash Toyota Highlander SUV along that route.
He said the victim was rescued unhurt and that she had been debriefed.
In another development, joint security operatives attached to Forward Operating Base (FOB), on the same day, at about 8:30pm, engaged criminals in a fierce gun battle along Uga – Ezinifite Expressway.
The CP said the security operatives were on patrol when they saw oncoming vehicles at high speed. He said an attempt to stop the oncoming vehicles for security checks proved abortive, as the occupants of the vehicles opened fire on the security operatives instead.
He said the security forces returned fire, chasing the occupants of the vehicles who turned out to be criminals. He said the criminals succumbed to the superior firepower of the security agents and abandoned their vehicles – a HighLander SUV and a white Lexus 350, which had no number plates.
He regretted that the criminals escaped from the scene under the cover of the night. He said when a search was conducted inside the vehicles, two automatic pump action guns, 11 live cartridges and a bag containing one walkie-talkie, one cell phone and other incriminating items were recovered.
“Further information shows evidence of blood stains on all the vehicles, as they had escaped with bullet wounds. The command also wants to use this opportunity to call on operators of public and private hospitals to admit, but report anyone with a bullet wound or related injuries to the nearest police station,” the CP advised.
Adeoye, however, warned criminals in the state to change their ways or face the superior firepower of the police under his command.
Meanwhile, the female kidnap victim, whose identity was concealed for security reasons, told journalists in the CP’s office that her abductors injected her with some liquid substance she didn’t know what it was before her rescuers came.