• Declare native doctor wanted
From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
Operatives of the anti-kidnapping unit of the Imo State Police Command have arrested three suspects for allegedly kidnaping a Catholic priest, Rev Fr. Charles Nwachukwu of Amauzari parish, in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State on June 16, 2017, along Umunkwo/Abaja road, in Nwangele council area of the state.
The suspects are Chinedu (24), Ogadinma (20) and Uzoma (48), all from Umuokpo Abaja, in Nwangele council area.
According to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, who briefed newsmen yesterday, at the State police command headquarters, following a report of the incident, operatives of anti-kidnapping unit swung into action and with the use of a high-powered tracking device, arrested one Ogadinma ( 20) on June 18, 2017.
He said: “Ogadinma, who confessed to the crime, led the operatives of the anti-kidnapping units to Umuokpo forest, where the Catholic priest was rescued unhurt on June 18, 2017. Further development also led to the arrest Chinedu (24) alias (aka Miliki), also a native of Umuokpo, Abaja and when he was searched the car keys of the Highlander SUV of the priest was found on him.”
He said Chinedu led the police operatives to where the Highlander SUV was parked at Umuocham, in Abaja Nwangele.
The police boss said the suspect confessed to have been involved in the kidnapping of another man from Ifeakala on October 16, 2016 and the kidnapping of the owner of St Cosin Petroleum fuel station along Egbu Road Owerri.
In a related development, the police have declared one Chidera, a native doctor wanted for alleged gun running.
According to Ezike, police operatives from Ngor Okpala Division, acting on intelligence report, had executed a search warrant in a shrine, in the house of Chidera of Umuagwu Alulu, in Ngor Okpala council area of the state.
He disclosed that during the search of the shrine, 82 rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition, 3 K2 riffle magazines, one locally made Revolver pistol, one human skull, two battle axes, one identity card and some pictures were recovered.
Ezike said the suspect, on sighting the police operatives, fled and that coordinated efforts were being made to track him.