6 kidnappers killed in a gun battle with Police...

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. MD Abubakar,

Anambra State Police Command said six alleged kidnappers were killed during a five hour gun battle with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Anambra on Sunday morning at Azia in Ihiala Local Government Area. Their victim who was in the trunk of a car was said to have been rescued during the operation involving over 50 men led by SARS commander in the state, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) James Nwafor.
Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Emeka Chukwuemeka told journalists at the SARS headquarters in Awkuzu that the battle would continue till December.
The kidnap leader Nonso Mgbe, was alleged to be the killer of OC SARS, Emma Achuobi in May 2013 in the commercial city of Onitsha and since then had been in the hide out.
Also recovered from the suspects were three AK47 riffles, 36 magazines, 413 rounds of ammunition and a box of charms with various sizes.
According to Chukwuemeka, “between 8 and 9pm, a gang of six persons kidnapped one Sunday Innocent Okoye in his Honda Acura Legend car in Awka and took him away. When the information got to the police command, our men were deployed to cordon off all major roads within and outside Awka, and the man hunt began.
“At about 2.20am Sunday morning, we saw the gang when they were making effort to move to one of the neighbouring state, and on citing the Police vehicles, they opened fire and the police retaliated and gunned four of them down.
“The other two who sustained various degrees of injuries later died and this is a warning to such hoodlums in Anambra that the place is no longer safe for them especially from now till the yuletide period.
“We will continue this operation till December and we want to make sure that our brothers and sisters who will be home for Christmas will be at peace and enjoy their stay, Anambra is no longer a hide out for criminals.”
The chairman of Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dede Uzor A. Uzor commended the Anambra State Police command for the wonderful job they are doing in the state especially the SARS commander CSP James Nwafor.
However, Uzor said that they still have some work to do in making sure that three people kidnapped since December 5th, 2012 which included Vitus Ezekwueme (aka VTS), Ifeanyi Okoye and Ifezue were rescued.
According to Uzor, “we are happy and at the same time commending SARS commander James Nwafor for what he has been doing in the state, especially on the gunning down of this six alleged kidnap kingpins”
“With this, Anambra State will have peace, they ring leader was instrumental to the killing of OC SARS in Onitsha DSP Emma Ochiobi.
“We are also calling Anambra State command to put more efforts in rescuing the three prominent individuals kidnapped about ten months ago in the state.”
WORLDSTAGE