Police foil abduction of a Clergy, arrest 2 kidnappers, kill 1 suspect in gun battle in Ebonyi

BY DAVE UKAZ / ABAKALIKI

Police in Ebonyi State on Sunday foiled the abduction of a Clergy, arresting two of the suspected kidnappers and killing one them in a gun duel at Ishieke in Ebonyi Local Government Area of the State.

It was learnt that Police operatives in conjunction with the Department of State Service led by the Divisional Police Officer of Ebonyi Division had swiftly responded following a distress call received by the State Commissioner of Police that a Clergy had been kidnapped.

In a statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Onome Onovwakpoyeya made available to newsmen in Abakaliki stated that the suspects were intercepted along Ndofia Ishieke and Edupfu Egbu Ishieke in Ebonyi Local Government Area.

Onovwakpoyeya stated that the suspects were forced to abandoned the victim and took to their heels while exchanging gunshots with the security operatives..

She said that one of the suspects was not lucky as he was neutralized (shot dead) in a gun exchange before two principal suspects were arrested.

The statement reads: “Today being 23/04/2023, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Police Command, CP Faleye S. Olaleye, psc received a distress call that a Clergy had been kidnapped”.

“He immediately swang into action by mobilizing the tactical teams and the Divisional Police Officer of Ebonyi Division to condone and barricade marked out Areas”.

*The Department of State service was equally involved in getting the location of the victim”.

“The kidnappers were intercepted along Ndofia Ishieke and Edupfu Egbu Ishieke in Ebonyi Local Government Area, where they abandoned the victim and took to their heels while exchanging gunshots with the Police to pave way for their escape”

“Unfortunately, they were over-powered by the Superior fire power of the Police which led to one(1) of them being neutralized and the arrest of two(2) Principal Suspects.

Two(2) AK47 and One(1) Lar rifles were recovered. Also recovered are two(2) Vehicles including that of the victim”.

“The Commissioner of Police is using this medium to warn Criminals to lay down their arms or leave the State.

Members of the Public may contact the control room number 07064515001 in case of any distress”.

Editor

Jude Ossai (JP) a veteran journalist is a National Diploma holder in Mass Communication from Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State. He also studied at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu and Imo State University, Owerri for his first and second degrees in Mass Communication, respectively. He writes extensively on politics, crime, corruption, climate change, healthcare, human rights, social justice, among others.