Imo Police arrest five suspected cultists, kidnapper

The Imo State Police Command has arrested five suspected members of a dreaded cult group identified as Ashland Confrantanity in Imo State.

The suspects were arrested following a piece of information revealed to the Police Command by their leader and a suspected armed robber cum kidnapper, Obieze Chima, who hails from Umuoboke Obile in Ohaji/Egbema LGA during interrogation.

The Commissioner of Police Imo State, CP Abutu Yaro, in a statement issued to newsmen in Owerri on Monday by the Command Public Relations Officer, CSP Michael Abatham, said that the information supplied to the Command Tactical Teams attached to the Divisional Police Headquarters led to the arrest of the five suspected cultists, who include China Darlington Nwokeocha, Chinedu Dike, Odinaka Kentus, Longinus Nwaugo, and Dandy Nwanuka.

The CP disclosed that 20 rounds of AK-47 rifle live ammunition and five (5)rounds of live cartridges were recovered from them.

Abutu Yaro hinted that the command’s tactical team, acting on a tip-off, arrested a 34-year old Obieze Chima, a notorious armed robber and kidnapper whose syndicate had been terrorising the state, after a serious gun battle resulting in his sustaining of bullet injury on his leg.

The CP said that the suspect on interrogation had confessed to being a member of the Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and had featured prominently in most of the armed robberies and kidnappings in the state with his gang leader, popularly known as “EMPEROR”.

He said that the suspect was later transferred to the State command’s Anti Kidnapping Unit for detailed investigation.

On their way back to the station, according to CP, two of the suspects, Darlington Nwokeocha and Chinedu Dike attempted to escape but were shot in the leg, thus they were demobilised and rearrested.

Abutu said that six additional suspects: Ozilam Chinagorom, Godswill Jonathan, Elumezie Tochukwu, Emedo Confidence, Ebuke Joshua and Amadi Destiny “M” age 36 years of Umuobi Assa in Ohaji Egbema LGA of Imo State were also arrested at the sane Ohaji/Egbema axis.

According to the Police Commissioner, while proceeding to the station thereafter, three of the suspects attempted escaping but were demobilised and rearrested.

He said that they were currently receiving medical attention at The Nigeria Police Clinic Owerri, lmo state, adding that investigation was ongoing and efforts were on to recover their Ak-47 rifles from where they confirmed to have concealed them.

The Commissioner of Police commended the officers and men of the Command for being proactive in nipping violent crimes in the bud and thanked the residents and citizens of the state for their supports.

Yaro urged them to provide the Police with credible information that would assist in the interception of criminal elements in the State.

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