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The Imo State Police Command has arrested a suspected gun-runner from Rivers State believed to be supplying ammunition to kidnapping gangs operating in Imo State.
The Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday, stating that the suspect was apprehended following the arrest of members of a kidnapping syndicate who allegedly identified him as their source of ammunition during interrogation.
Bosso also announced the arrest of two suspected kidnapping kingpins identified as 28-year-old Confidence Vitalis of Ukugba, Egbema in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, and 32-year-old Ishiaya Rejoice from Emuoha, Rivers State.
According to the police commissioner, the suspects were arrested after operatives carried out a follow-up operation at a suspected kidnappers’ and terrorists’ hideout in the Egbema River creek, where a kidnap victim was rescued.
He said intelligence gathered during the rescue operation led investigators to the alleged kingpins, whose confessional statements further guided police operatives to the gang’s hideout.
Bosso said the operation led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, four AK-47 magazines, 16 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, three locally fabricated cut-to-size guns, 16 live cartridges, an empty Beretta magazine, 20 rounds of General Purpose Machine Gun ammunition, a human skull and various criminal charms.
He added that investigations revealed the gang was allegedly responsible for the recent killing of two personnel of the Imo State Homeland Security during an attempted abduction of Mrs Betty Oluchi Dike at Umuguma in Owerri West Local Government Area.
“Further investigation established that the same criminal gang was responsible for the killing of two personnel of the Imo State Homeland Security at Umuguma, Owerri West Local Government Area recently during an attempt to kidnap Mrs. Betty Oluchi Dike. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate,” Bosso said.
The commissioner further disclosed that acting on credible intelligence, police operatives raided the Obiakpu swamps in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, where they recovered an additional cache of ammunition.
According to him, the recovered items included 346 rounds of live ammunition made up of 122 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 148 rounds of M16 rifle ammunition and 76 rounds of 9mm Beretta pistol ammunition.
The operatives also recovered seven magazines, comprising four AK-47 rifle magazines and three M16 rifle magazines.
Bosso said investigations are ongoing, while efforts have been intensified to arrest other members of the criminal network still at large.
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