Crime :Kidnappers chain female victim in a wicked way

Police in Rivers State have rescued a female victim of abduction who was chained down at kidnappers’ den in Port Harcourt.

The state Commissioner of Police, Musa Kimo, disclosed this yesterday while parading 20 suspects arrested for various crimes ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism. Giving the breakdown, Kimo 11 were kidnappers, five were cult members while four were armed robbers.

The police chief said arms recovered from the suspects included five AK47 rifles, one General Purpose Rifle (GPR), five locally-made pistols, six single-barrelled guns, 161 rounds of ammunition and 11 vehicles.

According him, seven kidnap victims were rescued by policemen. He said: “They are Mrs Bunmi Shonoye (43 years), Mrs Thressa Nwosu (76), Mr Osimoke Itu, Master Judah Ayoade (10), Mr Ugochukwu Duru, Mr Friday Ozogo and Professor Iheanyi S. Nzeneri.”

“These rescued kidnap victims were found in an inhumanly cruel condition, depicting the depravity, wickedness and reprehensible disposition of these hoodlums.

“A case in hand was that of Mrs Bunmi Shonoye, who was found with chain on her legs at the kidnappers’ hideout on Rumuduru Road, Port Harcourt. “One Obinna Ezekiel ‘m’ 28 years and Henry Enyi ‘m’ 28 years were arrested during her rescue operation, while two AK 47 rifles, four magazines, 40 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition and a Honda Accord saloon car with registration No. NDN 43 JP were recovered at the scene.

“You will remember on July 27 we paraded the trio of Kelvin Ogbulaon, male and aged 22, Chiwendu Akani ‘m’ aged 20 and Nelson Kacaranmoh ‘m’ aged 23 who all confessed to have kidnapped, killed and buried one Friday Ozoko in a shallow grave at Choba waterfronts.

“Their fugitive co-traveller, one Stephen Ezebunwo, is now in the police net. He was arrested at Rukpokwu on October 1. “Our quick responses and discreet investigations into reported cases of kidnappings have led to the safe rescue of seven kidnap victims.

“On September 29, about 11am, our men conducted a sting operation on NTA Road, Port Harcourt and arrested Sunny Ossai ‘m’ who is the leader of a car-snatching syndicate.” Kimo said further interrogation of Ossai led policemen to Abia State where five suspected stolen vehicles were recovered.

He added: “The vehicles are Toyota RAV4 (gold colour), Toyota Camry (grey colour), Toyota Camry (silver colour), Honda EOD (silver colour), Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep (wine colour).

“A Toyota Lexus (silver colour) belonging to one Mrs E. Amadi that was snatched at gunpoint along Obiri-Ikwerre was also recovered by the operatives of the command on September 29 at Awka, Anambra State.”