By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Anambra State Police Command, on Sunday, June 5, 2022, killed a former vigilante who was part of a four-man gang that has been involved in high profile killings and kidnapping in Anambra State.

The Command also arrested a native doctor and five other persons for questioning.

A source said the gang had, on Sunday, attacked and kidnapped two persons at Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, and another two persons in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area.

The source said: “The gunmen had entered Oko through Nanka for a kidnap operation and almost succeeded but for the prompt intervention of the Police Special Force, acting on a tip- off and engaged them in gun battle. While one of them was killed, others escaped with various degree of injuries.

“The gunman killed at Oko was identified as a former vigilante who was part of a four-man gang which has been involved in high profile killings and kidnapping around the area.”

Reacting, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the report.

Ikenga said the Command received distress call about the kidnap of two persons at Oko, and, while on their trail, they learnt that the gang had kidnapped two more persons at Ekwulobia, and quickly pursued them and were able to track them down.

Though he was unable to account for the killing of the vigilante member who later joined the criminal gang, Ikenga said based on information, “Police operatives working with the vigilante, stormed the location, on Sunday, rescued the four victims and arrested one Emeka who was suspected of complicity.

“Upon interrogation, he confessed to the crime and led detectives to the hideout of his gang in Oba, Idemili South, where a shootout ensued. The gang leader, one Chinedu Ajogu, AKA Sampolo, was gunned down and five other persons, including their native doctor, was arrested for interrogation,” Ikenga said.

He listed some of the items recovered at the criminals’ hideout to include one SMG rifle, one Beretta pistol, two locally made revolver pistol, a dagger, one Biafra flag and a pair of ESN uniform.

Others are two berets, two web belts, assorted charms and one Acura SUV vehicle, which was said to have been reportedly snatched from a Reverend Father in Awgbu.

Ikenga said the suspects were being interrogated with a view to eliciting information on their involvement in previous criminal activities.

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