Fides Media Living the Faith
By Jude Atupulazi
A criminal gang terrorizing Anambra East and West Communities has been smashed. This was according to an indigene of Aguleri Community in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, Dr Innocent Chidumebi Okonkwo, who confirmed the arrest of nine kidnappers in the area.
He said the kidnapping and robbery gang which usually operated at Aguleri Junction is now singing like canaries at Otuocha Police Station.
He took to his Facebook wall to break the news, saying that the 9-man suspected armed robbery and kidnap gang who operated at Aguleri Junction and Nsugbe axis had been smashed by the Joint Security Task Force operatives comprising the Aguleri Vigilante Group, Anam Vigilante and police operatives, leaving one of the suspects dead at the scene while the remaining 8 suspects sustained various degrees of injuries.
He said the criminal gang camped in Anam, Anambra West and specialized in kidnapping wealthy men in Aguleri and its environs.
The gang members operated mainly along Aguleri Junction and killed a vigilante member in Eziagulu Aguleri Community last week, Okonkwo said.
‘The aggrieved Aguleri Vigilante Group and police operatives, joined forces with Anam Vigilante in the operation.
‘The criminal gang comprises indigenes of Nnewi and Anam in Anambra State. Other suspects are indigenes of Ebonyi State and Tiv in Benue State.
‘Four AK47, 3 SUV, human skeletons, pump actions, mobile phones and other property belonging to different persons kidnapped by members of the gang, as well as cartridges, were recovered from the suspects.
‘One of the members of the vigilante group, an Indigene of Anam, sustained bullet wounds in the operation and has been moved to an undisclosed hospital for treatment,’ he said.
As at the time of filing this report, police authorities in Anambra were yet to react to the news.
The suspects arrested are currently at Otuocha police station and would be transferred to state CID Awka soon.