The police in Anambra state yesterday disclosed that it gunned down two kidnap suspects who engaged the police in a gun duel after receiving ransom payment and refusing to deliver the suspect, who is the mother of a former commissioner in the state.
13 other suspects who were involved in kidnap and armed robbery activities around the state were also paraded, with arms and ammunition which were recovered from them by the police at the time of arrest.
The police public relations officer, Mr Uche Ezeh who briefed journalists said Madam Virginia Uloma Arinze who is aged 72 was kidnapped on 21 of February in Ebenebe, Awka North local government area, with his kidnappers demanding ransome in millions.
His son, a former commissioner in the state and a prominent lawyer(names withheld) told reporters that he paid a ransom of N2.5million to the kidnappers, but shortly after he did, they called to tell him that he will never see his mum again.
“That was when I approached the police and I am surprised that they were able to track them down and today they are dead. The kidnappers were tracked to Ezeagu in Enugu State on 27th February, and in the course of exchanging fire the two kidnappers were shot dead. I am happy that my mum is back and this has rekindled my hope in the Nigerian Police.”
The PPRO gave the named of the deceased kidnappers as; Chinedu Onyia alias Nwa Police or Edumgbara, the second one is Peter Eneje and they all hail from Enugu State.
Five of the others paraded were identified to be responsible for the kidnap of the wife of electronic giant, Albertina Electronics Limited who was taken in Ekwulobia in March last year, and also said to be Involved in the kidnap of so many other prominent people.
While two of the suspects were also involved in the kidnap of a niece of Rev Fr Emmannuel Ede, a fiery priest on 4th January here in Anambra while on transit, and was said to have doled out the sum of N7m to the kidnappers.
The state police commissioner told journalists that the force is committed to flushing criminals from the state and will ensure that no one who does illegal business in the state will be spared as his men are ready to carry out the task.
