The Imo state police command has arrested a deadly kidnap syndicate responsible for the abduction and murder of retired Major General Richard Duru, as well as other suspects involved in various criminal activities in the state.
Parading the suspects including 435 others at the command’s headquarters, Owerri on Thursday, May 16, the state commissioner of police, Aboki Danjuma, said the syndicate was busted through intense intelligence gathering and sustained follow-up by the command’s anti-kidnapping unit.
He said: “The suspects, Chukwunonso Emmanuel, Okoroigwe Goodness, and Innocent Ogu, were arrested in different locations in Imo and Anambra States. They confessed to the crime of kidnapping and murdering Major General Duru, as well as being members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) /Eastern Security Network (ESN).”
Aboki, who was represented by the police spokesman, Henry Okoye, disclosed that the police also recovered 48 different firearms, 552 various calibres of live ammunition, and several stolen vehicles from the suspects.
“Additionally, 13 kidnapped victims were rescued and N9 million and other properties were recovered from the suspects,” he said.
The commissioner of police commended the operatives for their gallantry display in achieving the operational feats and charged them to sustain the tempo in their unwavering commitment to curtail the activities of criminally minded elements in the state.
“The suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigations”, he added.