From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri

The Imo State Police Command has paraded suspected armed robbers/ kidnapers who threw their victim, Mr Obi Fredrick, into the Okija River after robbing him of N9 million and his Lexus 330 RX SUV.

The suspects namely Obi Chidera Collins, Awaziama Jude and Ejionye Darlington, were paraded alongside other suspected criminals at the Imo State Police Command headquarters, Owerri.

While addressing journalists, the spokesperson of the police command,  Henry Okoye (ASP) disclosed  that: “On 06/04/2024 at about 02:00hrs, a group of armed terrorists/kidnappers invaded the house of one Obi Fredrick ‘m’, abducted him, and took him to Okija in Anambra State, robbed him of about N9m and other properties like Lexus 330 RX SUV and other valuables.”

He further stated that the suspects also inflicted a deep machete cuts in his hands and then threw him into the Okiji River in Anambra State.

He said: “Through data-tracking analysis, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit were able to rescue the victim from the river the same night and recover his Lexus 330 SUV.

“But embolden by their recent success, the criminal gang continued their nefarious acts, invading the residence of the victim’s brother, abducting his pregnant wife and four-year-old son, and holding them hostage in their hideout at Eziama Ubulu in Oru-West L.G.A of Imo State.

“Following technical intelligence, operatives of Anti-Kidnapping Unit Owerri stormed the hideout, dislodged the kidnappers, arrested one suspect named Obi Chidera Collins, and rescued the victims unhurt.

“The suspect was recognised by the kidnapped victim. His confessions led to the arrest of two members of his criminal syndicate, Awaziama Jude ‘m’ and Ejionye Darlington ‘m’. Recovered from the suspect include one locally- made gun with two live cartridges. Investigation is in progress to arrest the fleeing members now at large,” the police spokesperson said.