The Imo State Police Command has arrested a suspected gun-runner alleged to be supplying ammunition to kidnapping gangs operating in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, disclosed this while briefing journalists on Friday, saying the suspect, who is from Rivers State, was tracked down following the arrest of members of a kidnapping syndicate.
According to Bosso, the suspected kidnappers provided investigators with information that led to the identification and arrest of their alleged ammunition supplier.
The police commissioner also announced the arrest of two suspected kidnapping kingpins identified as 28-year-old Confidence Vitalis from Ukugba in Egbema, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, and 32-year-old Ishiaya Rejoice from Emuoha, Rivers State.
He said the arrests followed a coordinated operation at a suspected kidnappers’ and terrorists’ hideout in the Egbema River creek, where officers rescued a victim who had been abducted by the syndicate.
“Intelligence obtained from the rescue operation led to the subsequent arrest of the kingpins, and their confessional statements led operatives to the suspects’ hideout, culminating in the latest operation,” Bosso said.
During the operation, security operatives recovered an AK-47 rifle, four AK-47 magazines, 16 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, three locally fabricated guns, 16 live cartridges, an empty Beretta magazine, 20 rounds of General Purpose Machine Gun ammunition, a human skull and suspected criminal charms.
Bosso said preliminary investigations linked the syndicate to the recent killing of two personnel of the Imo State Homeland Security.
“Further investigation established that ther same criminal gang was responsible for the killing of two personnel of the Imo State Homeland Security at Umuguma, Owerri West Local Government Area, during an attempt to kidnap Mrs. Betty Oluchi Dike. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate,” he stated.
The commissioner further disclosed that another intelligence-led operation at the Obiakpu swamps in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area resulted in the recovery of a large cache of ammunition.
“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives stormed the Obiakpu swamps where they recovered 346 rounds of live ammunition, including 122 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 148 rounds of M16 rifle ammunition and 76 rounds of 9mm Beretta pistol ammunition. Seven magazines were also recovered, comprising four AK-47 magazines and three M16 magazines,” Bosso added.
He said investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal network.
