BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA- Anambra State command of the State Security Service, SSS, Thursday foiled an attempt by some hoodlums to rob some commercial banks in Awka and arrested three suspects in the process.

State Director of SSS, Mr. Alex Okeiyi, said at a briefing that operatives of the agency had on November 20, 2011, trailed the suspects who had a vehicle loaded with two general purpose guns with 653 live ammunitions and three pairs of hand gloves from Delta State, and confronted them as they were about taking delivery of the consignment.

He said the hoodlums exchanged gunfire with his men, adding that some of them sustained injuries, while some escaped with the bus that brought them which was shattered by bullets.

He said the suspects had planned to rob First Bank, UBA, Fidelity Bank and Zenith Bank all located along Zik Avenue in Awka, and noted that the three suspects arrested by his men were assisting the command in the investigation.

He also said the command arrested two persons who allegedly kidnapped one Aniemeka Charles, a final year law student of Nnamdi Azikliwe University, Awka.

He gave the names of the suspected kidnappers as Onyekachukwu Obigwe from Umuleri in Anambra East local government area of Anambra State and Emenike Osi from Ohaozara local government area of Ebonyi State, saying they were arrested at Gwagwalada, Abuja, by the command’s operatives.

He explained that during a search at the home of Osi, $318,000 fake were recovered.

Also recovered, according to Okeiyi, was an ATM card belonging to one Innocent Idibia which was used to withdraw the initial ransom of N1 million paid by the victim’s father.

Governor Peter Obi, who was at the briefing commended men of SSS for their gallantry, assuring that his administration would continue to support security operatives to ensure a crime free Anambra State.