Police Bust Kidnap Syndicate In Imo

The Imo State Police Command has  bust a five-man kidnap gang that allegedly kidnapped a Catholic priest in the state.

Also, operatives of the  command shot dead one of the suspects, while the kingpin known as “Bush” escaped.

Addressing journalists yesterday, at the state Police Command headquarters while parading the suspects, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem ( DSP), identified  the suspects as Obinna, Ibewuchi Uzo, who was  shot dead, Celestine and Frank.

According to him, the suspects had abducted Reverend Father Philip Ejimadu from the Catholic Diocese of Uzoagba in Ikeduru Council Area of the state, while driving in his Nissan Juxe car.

Enwerem stated that the suspects, had already established contact with the supposed family members of the priest for payment of ransom, not knowing that they were actually speaking with under cover operatives of the anti- kidnapping squad of the state police command,  who had tracked them to a hotel in Aba,  Abia State.

However, he said when the suspects discovered that their victim was a priest, they released him, but held on to his car, which they had already placed for sale.

Enwerem said it was in the process of selling the car that the Police swooped on the suspects and arrested two of them.

The PPRO said on sighting the anti- kidnapping squad, the other suspects opened fire on the policemen and in the ensuing gun duel, one of the suspects, Ibewuchi Uzo was shot dead, while another gang member, Celestine, was seriously wounded but their  leader  simply identified as “Bush” escaped.

However, one of the suspects Celestine,  has denied being a member of the gang , adding that he did not negotiate for the payment of ransom before the priest would be released as alleged by the police.

He said he was contracted by “ Bush” who is now at large, to do a pillar work at his house but  decided to run when he saw the police because if arrested, he did not have the money to bail himself.

Meanwhile, the Nissan Juke car belonging to the  priest has been recovered by the police.