Ebonyi state police command has rescued an police inspector attached to the Police Detective College, Enugu and the village chair of Ngwogwo, Ishiagu, Ivo LGA, from kidnappers.
According to a statement by the Police PRO, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, the officer and village chief were kidnapped on Sunday.
The spokesperson said both victims were rescued unhurt, and three of the suspected kidnappers have been arrested.
“Police operatives swung into action upon receipt of actionable intelligence report, and the hideout of the hoodlums situated between Amata Ishiagu in Ebonyi and Lokpanta in Abia was raided. The hoodlums opened fire on sighting the police operatives but were subdued by the superior firepower of the police.
“During the gun duel, one of the hoodlums was neutralised, while three of his gang members were arrested unharmed,” the statement said.
Items recovered from the gang included two AK47 rifles, one double-barrelled gun, 45 AK47 live ammunition and 70 live cartridges.
In related news…
It was reported earlier that three men were arrested and charged to court for allegedly abducting a police Inspector Shola Akindeko, while in the course carrying out his duties.
The suspects, Olayinka Idowu, 39; Caleb Saviour, 45; and Andrew Ogoh, 36 were arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court sitting at Ogba area of Lagos State on Thursday.
They were said to have allegedly abducted the officer at night and took him to an unknown destination where he was assaulted.
The prosecutor, Inspector Josephine Ikhayyera told the court that one of the suspects, Idowu, destroyed Akindeko’s iPhone XR, valued at N185,000.
Idowu, Saviour and Ogoh were charged with three-counts bordering on committing a felony, assault occasioning harm and cause of breach of public peace.
According to the police, the offence is punishable under Sections 411, 168(D) and 350 of the Criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
The charge read; That you, Olayinka Idowu, Caleb Saviour and Andrew Ogoh on April 3, 2023, around 8.30pm at BRT Garage Awori U-turn, Abule-Egba in the Ikeja Magisterial District did commit felony to wit assault occasioning harm and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
That you, Olayinka Idowu, Caleb Saviour and Andrew Ogoh, on April 3, 2023, around 8.30pm at BRT Garage Awori U-turn, Abule-Egba in the Ikeja Magisterial District did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by forcefully taking an officer to an unknown destination and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 168(D) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
That you, Olayinka Idowu, on the same date, time and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District did wilfully damage iPhone XR valued at N185,000 property of Inspector Shola Akindeko and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 350 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
