Police kill two kidnappers in gun duel, rescue victim in Imo

The police command in Imo State has reportedly killed two suspected kidnappers and rescued their victim along Umuezorokam- Avu in Owerri West Local Government Area., LGA.

The command also recovered one locally-made cut-to-size gun, two cutlasses, and charms in their possession.

Henry Okoye, spokesperson of the command, in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, said the operatives, in a follow-up to a distress call received on August 29, 2023, at about 1230hrs, from a Good Samaritan, sighted hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons attacking a young man named (withheld) along Umuezorokam- Avu in Owerri West LGA with a machete in an attempt to kidnap him.

The statement reads, “The DPO in charge of Nekede Divisional Headquarters swiftly mobilised his men and stormed the scene with the assistance of the Local vigilantes.

“The hoodlums, on sighting the police, immediately opened fire but were overwhelmed by the professionalism and stiff resistance showcased by the ever-gallant operatives, who manoeuvred into vintage position and returned fire.

“In the ensuing gun duel, two of the criminal syndicates were neutralised while others escaped to the adjoining bushes with various degrees of gunshot injuries. Efforts are in top gear to arrest other fleeing members of the criminal syndicate.

“On searching the neutralised hoodlums, one locally-made cut-to-size gun, two cutlasses, and charms were recovered in their possession.

“The victim was rescued with a deep machete cut on his hand and other parts of his body and was immediately rushed to Federal Medical Centre Owerri, where he is currently receiving medical attention while the lifeless bodies of the neutralised hoodlums have been deposited at the morgue for preservation.

“While commending DPO Nekede, his men, and the local vigilantes for a job well done, the Commissioner of Police Imo State, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, reaffirmed the Command’s unresolved commitment to ensuring that the life and properties of all and sundry in the State are adequately protected.

“More so, the CP stated in strong terms that there will be no hiding place for criminally minded elements across the length and breadth of Imo and beckoned on Imolite to continue to support the Police and other sister security agencies in the onslaught against all forms of crime and criminality in the state.”