After 8-Hour Gun Duel, Police Rescue 13 Victims Kept In Imo Forest By Kidnappers
– The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says 13 kidnap victims have been rescued from a forest in Imo state after a gun duel between its men and the abductors
– The spokesperson of the force, Frank Mba, reveals that three of the suspects were killed while weapons were recovered from the scene
– Mba adds that one of the 19 suspects paraded in Owerri murdered a 27-year-old female, Lillian Ngbawa
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Monday, July 8, confirmed that its men rescued 13 kidnapped victims inside the Lili forest in Ohaji/Egbema council area of Imo state.
DCP Frank Mba, spokesperson of the NPF, also said three of the alleged kidnap suspects were killed by police after an eight-hour gun battle.
He added that four assault rifles were recovered from the suspects.
Mba, who spoke in Owerri, the capital of Imo, paraded 19 suspects allegedly involved in various crimes ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, murder and child-trafficking.
According to him, two other suspects had been arrested on the issue of alleged kidnapping after a follow up investigation.
Mba said one Chukwuemeka Eze, who was paraded with the suspects, allegedly murdered a 27-year-old female, Lillian Ngbawa, who just concluded her NYSC programme in Mgbidi, Oru West council area.
The police spokesperson said Eze allegedly murdered his victim and dumped her in a forest where her body was recovered.
He alleged that Eze took his victim’s smart phone after killing her which eventually implicated him.
Mba attributed the success to the recently launched Operation Puff Adder adding that four of the suspects paraded were involved in armed robbery while 12 were involved in kidnapping.
One of the suspects, according to him, is being held for murder while another one is arrested for unlawful procession of firearms and child-trafficking.
Legit.ng had reported that the Taraba House of Assembly on Tuesday, July 2, amended the state’s kidnapping and abduction prohibition act 2010 to introduce death penalty and life imprisonment for offenders.
