The Ebonyi State Police Command has rescued wife of the late staff member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Emmanuel Igwe.
Until his death, the deceased was
an Assistant Electoral Officer of INEC in Afikpo North local government area of
the state.
The deceased was killed on June
18, 2023, when gunmen attacked him and his wife at Ishiagu in Ivo local
government area of the state.
After killing Igwe, the
assailants abducted his wife.
But on Sunday, the police said
they rescued her after acting on an intelligence report.
It was gathered that the police
also arrested no fewer than eight members of the criminal gang after storming
the hideout where three members of the gang were reportedly killed.
The Chairman of Ivo Local
Government Area, Hon. Emmanuel Aja, confirmed the arrest and killing of three
of the suspects to journalists.
Aja explained that the hoodlums
were apprehended at their hideout in Lokpanta, Umunneochi Local Government Area
(LGA) of Abia state.
He commended men of the Nigeria
police for their courage and gallantry and pledged that the council would not
hesitate in ridding the area of criminals.
He said, “The successful
operation of the Special Squad of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Ebonyi
Command of the Nigeria Police led to the arrest of no fewer than eight
suspected killers of the INEC staff while three of the suspects were
neutralised in the operation.
“The killers, suspected to be
kidnappers who also abducted their victim’s wife, were arrested at their
hideout in a forest at Lokpanta in Abia state on Saturday, June 24.
“Efforts are being intensified to
apprehend the leader of the criminal gang, nicknamed ‘Alhaji’, who fled during
the gun duel between the gang and the police.
“The suspected kidnappers are
allegedly responsible for the various kidnappings and other criminal activities
in the council area,” Aja stated.\
The chairman, who expressed his
administration’s commitment to rid the LGA of crimes, called on the people of
the area to always volunteer useful information to the police.
“Security is everyone’s business,
when you see something, say something because, in that way, we will be several
steps ahead of the criminals,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Police Public
Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebonyi Command, SP. Onome Onovwakpoyeya who also
confirmed the development, said the abducted woman was rescued unhurt in a
thick forest.
“Yes, the woman, Mrs Charity
Igwe, who was kidnapped while her husband was killed has regained freedom.
“She was rescued in a forest at
Lonkpanta community in Abia state and she is receiving medical treatment in a
hospital.
“Investigation is still ongoing
to fish out everyone in connection with the crime,” she said.
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