By Tina Aliri
The Imo state police command has paraded 31 suspects arrested in connection to different crimes. Among the suspects were, a traditional ruler and a pastor.
Imo State Commissioner of Police, (CP) Isaac Akinmoyede restated his resolve to make the state inhabitable for criminal elements who refuse to hid his earlier warning to either repent or relocate from the state.
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The CP made this remark while parading a total of 31 crime suspects arrested by the state police command, in connection to various criminal offences, ranging from; kidnapping, armed robbery, rape/defilement, incest, among others.
Prominent among the feat achieved by the state police command was the smashing of a notorious kidnapping/armed robbery syndicate that included a traditional ruler, a pastor and a 30 year old female gang member who is wife to the leader of the gang.
The 59 years old traditional ruler, Eze Andrew Okuegbunuwa, of Obor community, Awara in Oguta LGA, aside from giving the gang full backing from his traditional throne, also provides them with vehicles for their different operations, for which he gets his fair share of the ransom after each successful operation.
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He was the owner of the Lexus 330 SUV that was abandoned by the gang during a hot chase by men of Anti robbery and Anti Kidnapping unit of the Imo State Police command. He was said to have been given the sum of N3 Million from a N7.5 million ransom to replace his vehicle.
The 42 years old Pastor, Caleb Agu from Umuoni Agwa of same Oguta LGA was said to be the head and spiritual leader of the gang. While Ebenezer Obioha of Awara, in Ohaji/Egbema LGA is the operational Commander and Chief executioner of the gang, his wife could be described as treasurer and welfare officer of the gang. She was in charge of distributing ransom to members of the gang at their various locations, as soon as ransom is paid by victims.
Also arrested in connection to the kidnapping syndicate included; Bernard Uzoma, a native doctor who was said to provide the gang with diabolical spiritual protection from arrest and other operational hazards.
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Fabian Obioha, 60 years old of Awara is the father of Ebenezer and serves as the gangs armourer. Kennedy Okwuonu 40 years old of Onitsha in Obingwa LGA of Abia State is Ebenezer’s brother in-law who provides the gang with hard drugs and other logistics at the creeks, among others.
The gang was said to have masterminded several kidnapping and armed robbery crimes across Imo State and beyond, including shooting at three personnel of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) at Ohi junction and taking away their guns; one Sub-Machine Gun (SMG) and one Light Assault Rifle (LAR).
Their victims, according to Police records include; Luis Nonye Obodo, 45 years old male of Mgbala Agwa, Oguta LGA, Inspector Oscar Mbaeri, 40 years old male of Agwa, in Oguta LGA, Chigozie Festus Nneji, 39 years old male of Egwelu Atta, in Njaba LGA, Anyanwu Amarachi, 30 years old female of No. 76 Lobo Street, in Owerri,
Desmond Okonkwo, a 38 years old male of Nnempi, in Oru West LGA all in Imo State.
Exhibits recovered from them included; a Lexus 330 SUV, two Qlink motorcycles, N4.2 million, being part of a total ransom of N7.5 million they were paid for the release of two kidnap victims, four AK-47 rifles, one LAR and one SMG rifles, 120 rounds of 7.62MM life ammunition, among others.
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Also worthy of mention is the case of defilement involving one Joseph Anthony, a pastor with the Living Faith Church (AKA Winner’s Chapel) who was arrested for defiling Favour Chikanma, an 11 years old daughter of his fellow pastor who accommodated him in his house.
He was said to have taken advantage that he was at home alone with the victim on the faithful day and had carnal knowledge of her.
Summary of the crime showed that 18 suspects were paraded in connection with kidnapping, nine suspects paraded in connection with armed robbery, while four suspects were paraded over rape, defilement and incest related crimes.
