A little over a
month after his escape from the Imo State High Court in Owerri, a kidnap
ringleader, Henry Chibueze, aka Vampire, was killed by the police yesterday
morning.
A gang member said
to be Vampire’s second-in-command, 26-year-old Obinna Elah, who hails from Orlu
area of Imo State, was arrested in a joint operation carried out by operatives
of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team and the state
police command.
Four other members
of the gang –
Arinze Abecheta 24,
a native of Ohafia in the Isiala Mbano LGA; Chukwu Ebuka Ikeazota 23, an
indigene of Ohohia in the Isiala Mbano LGA; Clifford Aheana, from Omu Awa
village, Rivers State; and 24-year-old Samuel Ugochukwu from Ezisno village, in
the Arochukwu LGA of Abia State – were also arrested.
A cache of arms and
ammunition were reportedly recovered from the suspects.
It was learnt that
the IRT and operatives of the Rivers State Police Command, led by ACP Abba
Kyari, laid siege to the kidnappers’ hideout in Omu Awa Forest in the Ikwerre
LGA of Rivers State in the early hours of Thursday.
The kidnappers, on
sighting the police, reportedly opened fire, resulting in a gun duel, during
which Vampire was killed and three of his members injured. Some policemen also
sustained injuries.
A police source
disclosed to Punch that the arrested suspects confessed to have carried out
four kidnappings after the rescue of Vampire from the court.
He said, “The
suspects confessed to have rescued Vampire from Imo High Court on January 27.
They also confessed to have executed four successful kidnappings after the
rescue of their gang leader. A police sergeant attached to IRT sustained
multiple bullet injuries during the gun battle and has been admitted in a
hospital.
“Three of the five
arrested suspects sustained bullet injuries. Several AK-47 rifles and
ammunition were recovered from the gang. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the
remaining gang members.”
The Imo State
Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, confirmed the arrest of the suspects.
He said, “The
ringleader was shot dead during the exchange of gunfire. Five members of his
gang were arrested together with arms and ammunition. A combined team of the
Inspector-General of Police special squad and operatives of the command engaged
the gang.”
Force Public
Relations Officer, CSP Moshood Jimoh, while briefing journalists on the
operation, said the gang had carried out kidnap operations in several
South-South and South-East states.
The police
spokesperson said Vampire had confessed to the murder of his girlfriend, Sandra,
and eight members of her family.
The
Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said the operations of the gang
were being analysed to get insights to its reach and ensure the arrest of other
fleeing members.
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