Kidnappers, soldiers, policemen in gun battle
Armed kidnappers have reportedly engaged soldiers and policemen in a gun battle in Akwa Ibom state.
Olatoye Durosinmi, the state commissioner of police, said the law enforcement officers succeeded in arresting two of the criminals terrorising Etim Ekpo local government area of the state. They are Thankgod Ezekiel Udo and Imo Okarafor John
Durosimmi said the operatives equally rescued five kidnapped victims. They are Miss Blessing Elkanem, 19, Mr Kingsley Elkanem, 23, Mrs Chioma Gabriella, 25, Mr Idorenyin Maurice Inim, 23, and Mr Uko Clement, 39.
The police chief said that a driver with a public transport company tipped off operatives. He added that they recovered one Ak-47 rifle and ammunition from the suspects, some of who plunged into the river during the reported gun duel.
In a related development, the police said they arrested three gang members on 10th September, 2022, after a gun battle. One of the suspects succumbed to his gunshot injury before getting to the hospital. Before his death, the police said the suspect named one Chima Omelazu, 45, from Obingwa Local Government Area in Abia state, as a receiver of stolen vehicles.
“So far, a total of seven vehicles were recovered, while efforts are ongoing to recover more,” Durosinmi said. The vehicles recovered are one Toyota Highlander, one Lexus GX 460, one Toyota Rav4, one Lexus 350 model, one Toyota Camry and two others.
