Police Kill Two Suspected Kidnappers in Anambra, Rescue Abducted Woman

Thunder strike kills three suspected kidnappers in Kwara

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka  and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Operatives of Police in Anambra State have gunned down two members of a gang suspected to be kidnappers.  This is coming as the Anambra State Commissioner of Police(CP), Aderemi Adeoye, has warned police operatives in the state to desist from incessant arrest of innocent citizens.

This is just as   a thunder strike has reportedly killed three suspected kidnappers in the agrarian Oro Ago community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Adeoye, who spoke to journalists in his maiden press conference after being posted to the state, said that the command was ready to flush out criminal elements in the state.

He said: “I’m not in the habit of asking criminals to relocate to other states, our promise to them is that we will flush them out by ourselves.

“Already we have started. What you see here are arms recovered from a gang of suspected kidnappers, and behind you are two members of the gang who were neutralised.

“On July 11, 2023, by 8:30 p.m. the joint security operatives attached to Forwarding Operating Base (FOB), while on patrol around Uga-Ezinifite Expressway in an attempt to stop two vehicles (an ash highlander jeep and a white Lexus 350) that drove suspiciously, the occupants started shooting sporadically to escape police screening.

“In an intense chase by the joint forces, the deadly gang abandoned the white Lexus 350 jeep and took to their heels.

“Further information showed evidence of blood stains on all the vehicle as they had escaped with bullet wounds.”

The commissioner called on operators of hospitals in the area to admit persons with bullet wounds, but also alert the police for investigation.

Adeoye said that at about the same time, operatives of Anambra State Vigilante at Ichida Bus Stop along the Ichida-Igboukwu Expressway, were involved in a shootout with another gang of kidnappers.

He said that the operatives called on the police division in the area, causing the operatives of the police to join forces with the vigilante operatives, to overpower kidnappers.

“We rescued a kidnap victim, neutralised two members of the notorious gang, recovered one Ak47 rifle, two pump action gun, two (2) Ak47 magazine, 32 live ammunition, one highlander jeep belonging to the victim.”

Speaking to journalists about incessant arrest of citizens in the state, especially by ‘B’ Division Police Station, Adeoye said that the police under his command would not tolerate any form of intimidation on citizens.

“We received the complaint, and we have removed the DPO at ‘B’ Division, and replaced him with a much more senior officer. We will not tolerate that. We are trying to encourage night life, so incessant arrest will not be encouraged.

“We will descend hard on any officer that condones such. We are investigating the ‘B’ Division matter, and if at the end he is found guilty, we will deal very hard with such officers.

“We will also reward people who make the life of the people lighter. Times are hard, and we will not accept for people who come out at night to unwind, to be arrested. We are trying to encourage night light in Anambra.”

Meanwhile,   a thunder strike has reportedly killed three suspected kidnappers in the agrarian Oro Ago community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. THISDAY checks revealed that the incident, which was linked to the efforts of the local vigilance team in the Igbomina Kwara axis aimed at checking security challenges in the area, happened three days ago.

In a viral video of the incident obtained by THISDAY, it was gathered that the victims of the thunder strike were suspected members of an eight-man kidnap gang, who reportedly operated in Iwo, Osun State, about two weeks ago.

The one-minute-13-second video clip showed decomposing bodies of three young persons, presumably in their 20s, already burnt beyond recognition in a bush, with flies all over the scene.

The voice in the short video clip said: “We’re members of the vigilance team in Igbomina Kwara. Our efforts against those perpetrating evil and kidnapping people in our area had yielded fruits.

 “Thunderstrike struck three of them dead. God will continue to make us successful against the evildoers. We shall overcome them all by the grace of God. Thank you all.”

Also, another video clip showed some Fulani herders said to be relations of the victims of the thunder strike in a bush, bemoaning their loss. They ascribed the incident to the act of God that cannot be questioned by anyone, saying the thunder strike is from God and can never be man-made.

A source from the Oro-Ago Development Union (ODU), a sociocultural organisation of indigenes of the area, confirmed the incident, saying members of the vigilance team in the area briefed the organisation on the development.

Speaking on the incident, the state Police Commissioner, Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi, said the Police Command and its men had already commenced investigation on the development.

The police boss said the veracity of the incident would be ascertained after diligent investigation.