•Fleeing hoodlums carry along abducted monarch, FRSC officer

Operatives of the Imo State Police Command and the military have invaded the camp of some suspected terrorists in Orlu. One suspect was arrested while others escaped, carrying along the abducted traditional ruler of Orodo Autonomous Community in Mbaitoli Local Council, Samuel Ohiri, and a Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) official.

Ohiri, who is also the former chairman of the Imo State Traditional Rulers Council, was kidnapped from his palace by gunmen at about 8.30 p.m., last Saturday.

The command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, in a statement, yesterday, said the joint operation by the police and the military took place at a hideout of the suspects.

He said: “Following cases of kidnapping involving Sabinus Ugwuebu, ‘m’, a road safety officer, and Eze Ohiri, as victims, police operatives, alongside the military on January 8, 2023, at about 3:33 a.m., stormed a suspected terrorist camp at Ihite Owerre, in Orlu Local Council of Imo State, and arrested one suspect while others escaped with gunshot injuries after a protracted gunfight.

“On searching the camp, one pump action gun, two double barreled guns, two single barreled guns, 54 rounds of live cartridges, military uniforms, six motorcycles, a box containing locally made explosives, and road safety uniforms of the kidnapped officer were recovered.

“A concerted investigative effort is in progress to arrest the fleeing suspects and possibly rescue the kidnapped victims. They will be arraigned in court upon completion of the investigation.”

According to Okoye, all efforts were being taken by the Commissioner of Police to apprehend the fleeing hoodlums and stamp out crime and criminality in the state.

He added: “The Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, reiterates that the command will continue to work closely with the military and other relevant security agencies towards stamping out all forms of crime and criminality in the state and vows that the command will not rest until the kidnapped victims are released and the culprits brought to book.” (The Guardian)

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