A gang of about eight daredevil gunmen believed to be kidnappers, in the earlier hours of yesterday, engaged the police in a gun battle that lasted for over 30 minutes as they were trying to escape with their victim.

The incident, which took place between 1.30 and 2a.m, at Okpuno community in Awka South Local Government Area of the state saw the kidnappers escaping with bullet wounds while their victim, Mrs. Josephine Anene of Urum community in Awka North Local Government was rescued unscathed.

The kidnappers, Daily Sun gathered, had snatched Mr. Steve Anene, son of the victim’s milk-colour Camry car and 5,800 euros on the road and went to his house to abduct his mother.

They were, however, unfortunate as the police responded immediately to a distress call which led to the dispatching of many policemen by the new Commissioner of Police (CP), Murktar Ibrahim who traced the hoodlums to Okpuno community. On sighting the police, the hoodlums were said to have opened fire on them and while the exchange of fire was going on, the Camry car ran into a ditch and they abandoned it with the woman inside and ran away with bullet wounds.

Confirming the incident to newsmen yesterday, CP Ibrahim said the hoodlums ran away with bullet wounds but that his men were everywhere searching for them, assuring that they would be apprehended. He also disclosed that when the vehicle was searched, the police found a locally made gun cut to size with ammunition and warned criminals to leave the state in their own interest as he was in the state for serious business.

He said, “these boys should leave Anambra State entirely. I have not come here to play with them, rather, I am here on a serious mission and that mission is to rid the state of crime. Anambra is not the first place I have been to as police commissioner and all the areas I had been to I did not fail and I do not believe that Anambra will be a place I will fail.

“What I want the people of the state to do is to continue going about their normal businesses. The state must be free from these hoodlums and that is my promise to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafix Ringim, the state Governor, Mr. Peter Obi and the residents.” Meanwhile, the abductors of the Chairman and Chief Executive of Juhel Pharmaceutical Company, Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye have continued to keep mum one week after the Juhel boss was kidnapped in Umuna Okigwe in Imo State.

Yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka and the Special Assistant to Governor Peter Obi on Media, Mr. Valentine Obienyem told Daily Sun that nothing had been heard from the kidnappers. Chukwuemeka, when contacted, said, “I asked the PA to Dr. Okoye and he said nothing has been heard since the incident.”

However, there are rumours in Okoye’s country home, Agulu community, that the kidnappers were demanding for a ransom of N25 billion and that the people were trying to persuade the abductors to come down to what could be possible and were also rallying round to ensure that their son was released.

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Posted: at 17-12-2010 12:07 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

This is geting out of hand mostly in the south east ,may GOD c us true

Posted: at 17-12-2010 05:50 PM (13 years ago) | Newbie

well done mr police commissoner, but don,t ask them to leave , but get rid of them totally , if they leave , which place will take them ? we need not criminals in our society any more , the earlier you get rid of them all the better , i wish you and your bmen GOD,s protection

Posted: at 17-12-2010 06:52 PM (13 years ago) | Grande Master

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