BY IKENNA OGBU / ENUGU
Police Operatives with assistance from Forest Guard and Neighbourhood Watch in Enugu-Ezike, headquarters of Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State have rescued four youths from the hands of suspected kidnappers.
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The victims were reported to have been abducted at Umuopu community along Ette/Ogugu Road, on June 23, this year at about 9.30 pm on their way to Obollo-Afor in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State from Ankpa, Kogi State.
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The hoodlums were said to have demanded ransom of N10,000,000.00 for each of the victims.
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Confirming the story, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said the victims (two males and two females, names withheld) were rescued on Sunday after an intense gun fight with the kidnappers in a forest at Aishi-Ette in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the state.
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His words:
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“The kidnappers most of whom escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds, abandoned the victims due to the superior firepower of the Operatives.
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“However, one of the victims who sustained a gunshot wound in his left thigh during the duel but was moved to the hospital is responding to treatment and in stable condition while all the operatives returned unscathed.
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“The victims were reported to have been kidnapped at Umuopu village, along Ette/Ogugu Road, on 23/06/2023 at about 9.30 pm, on their way to Obollo-Afor, Enugu State from Ankpa, Kogi State with the hoodlums said to have demanded ransom of N10,000,000.00 for each of them.
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“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ammani, has commended the team for acting on the strategies devised and adhering to his earlier order on the massive deployment of personnel and operational resources of the Command to contain criminal cases of abduction/kidnapping in the State.
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“He charges them and all the Operatives of the Command to remain focused and sustain the onslaught against criminal elements, reiterating that the Police will never rest on their oars until the State is rid of unrepentant criminals and their activities.
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“To this end, the CP has urged members of the public especially owners of medical facilities to report anyone sighted with gunshot injuries to the nearest Police Station for necessary action in accordance with the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017.
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