Police raid kidnappers’ hideout in Imo, free 46-yr-old victim

The Police Command in Imo has rescued a 46-year-old kidnap victim, Mr Uzondu Kaka, after raiding a forest in Ehime-Mbano Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The rescue operation was disclosed by CSP Mike Abattam, spokesman for the Command.

Abattam confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday in Owerri. Further, he revealed that the police operatives killed one of the suspected kidnappers during a gun battle.

However, the Police PRO affirmed that one of the operatives was injured during the operation; adding that the affected cop was receiving medical attention.

Kaka was kidnapped in the front of his house at Umunuma Okohia in Isiala-Mbano LGA on July 1. Thereafter, he was taken to the Ehime-Mbano forest by his abductors.

Meanwhile, Abattam explained that the command received information of the victim’s kidnap on July 5 at about 2:30pm.

“On receipt of this information, the command’s tactical teams after gathering technical intelligence, was able to trace the location where the kidnappers used as their den in the forest at Ehime Mbano.

“The hoodlums on sighting the tactical team engaged them in a gun duel…In the process, one of the suspects was neutralised, others escaped with gunshot wounds and the victim was rescued unhurt.

“One of the operatives of the tactical team who sustained gunshot injury was rushed to the hospital where he is presently receiving treatment,” he said.

In addition, the Police spokesman stated that one pump action gun; five live cartridges; six expended cartridges and cellotape used to blindfold the victim were recovered from the suspects.

Also, he revealed that efforts were on to arrest the fleeing suspects; even as he appealed to the public and hospitals to report any person/persons with gunshot injuries to the nearest police station.

4wardwego blog reports that the wave of kidnapping for ransom has surged astronomically in Nigeria in recent times, especially in the North and parts of the South.