Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have arrested five suspected kidnappers and car snatchers after collecting ransom from four kidnapped victims in the state.

The suspects are identified as Egbo Michael (alias “Ejima”) aged 32, of Umuedeachi-Amechi in Enugu South L.G.A; Patrick Tochukwu Onwurah (alias “Jumping Chicken”) aged 37, of Umunze in Urumba South L.G.A. of Anambra State (he is the coordinator and receiver of all the snatched vehicles); Mazi Chukwuebuka aged 29, of Lokpaukwu in Umunneochi L.G.A. of Abia State (he is a mechanic and specialized in deactivating tracking devices installed in snatched vehicles); Ndubuisi Akanonu aged 48, of Ezinachi in Okigwe L.G.A. of Imo State (receiver of a snatched vehicle) and Nwadi Obinna aged 43, of Lokpanta Ezemekwu in Umunneochi L.G.A.of Abia State (specialized in changing the engine numbers of snatched vehicles).

According to the state commissioner of police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, who paraded the suspects before the media, the suspects and cohorts at large perpetrated several acts of kidnapping, armed robbery, and car snatching in different locations of the Enugu metropolis.

The CP disclosed that the suspects were arrested in January and in different locations of Abia, Anambra, Enugu, and Imo states for conspiring with others at large to perpetrate multiple acts of kidnapping, armed robbery, and car snatching.

He noted that the ongoing investigations revealed that the suspects obtained ransom sums totalling about ten million naira (N10,000,000.00) from four kidnapped victims, whose vehicles were also snatched and sold between October and December 2023.

While noting that further discreet investigation was ongoing, Uzuegbu disclosed that exhibits so far recovered from them included: one ash-coloured Toyota Corolla, one red-coloured Toyota Venza, one coloured ash-coloured Toyota Camry 2.4 model, and a black-coloured Toyota Camry (Spider) car.

He said the suspects will be arraigned in court once investigations are concluded. (The Nation)

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