The Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Aba Area Command, has nabbed the notorious leader of a kidnap syndicate terrorizing Abia and Rivers States
SP Ezekiel Onyeke the Abia State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), has confirmed that Ogochukwu Ihedioha, the leader of a kidnap syndicate terrorizing Abia and Rivers States has been arrested in Abia on Wednesday by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Aba Area Command.
Ezekiel who confirmed the arrest of the kidnap kingpin to newsmen, said the Police were on the trail of other members of the gang, adding that arrangements were on the way to hand the suspects over for prosecution, and called for the continued corporation of the public in making sure that criminal elements in their neighborhood were flushed out.
The police spokesman said the syndicate specialized in abducting targeted victims from Aba to their hideout in Umuakwu community; Eberi Omuma in Omuma council area of Rivers state, adding that they had kidnapped a clergy at Clifford road, Aba and another female victim from Ngwa both respectively on 11th May.
He explained further that the SARS team, acting on a tip-off, rescued the two kidnapped victims unhurt, without payment of ransom, and in the process of the rescue, Ihedioha and some members of his gang escaped from their hideout when police struck, but a female member of the syndicate, Izuchi Nwaforala, was nabbed in the operation while items including one SMG rifle, 25 rounds of live ammunition were all recovered in the process.
Nwaforala, however, helped the police in their investigations which led to Ihedioha’s arrest in his residence at No.9 Ekwulobia Street, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and he has since confessed to the crime and admitted being the leader of the gang.