By Vincent Ujumadu

AWKA—THE Anambra State police Command has foiled kidnap and armed robbery attempts in Onitsha, killing four suspects in the process and arresting 12.

The officer in charge of the State Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Mr. James Nwafor, said following a tip-off, the police trailed the gang to Asaba, Delta State, adding that on sighting the police, the gang opened fire on his men and in the gun duel, four members of the gang were killed.

Two of the suspects were killed on the spot. Two were arrested, but later died on the way, while others escaped with bullet wounds.

12 paraded

He said the other 12 suspects that were paraded were among those terrorizing Anambra State, adding that among those in the police net was a notorious armed robber and kidnapper, who killed the officer in charge of SARS in Onitsha, Mr. Emmanuel Ocheobi in 2012.

The dead suspects belonged to the gang of the late kidnap kingpin, Ofeakwu, who was killed last year and his property demolished by the state government.

Also paraded was a 65-year-old woman, Grace Offor, alleged to be the cook for kidnapped victims.

Items recovered from the suspects include two riffles with three magazines, 49 rounds live ammunition, seven rolls of dynamite with other related explosive components, N7,000 being part of ransom paid to them and a RAV 4 Honda car belonging to one of the kidnapped victims.

Anambra State Commissioner for Police, Mr. Hassan Karma, who paraded the suspects at the headquarters of SARS in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Council, commended Governor Willie Obiano for his support in the fight against criminals in the state.

He said they had received support in logistics, vehicles and communication gadgets and assured of police’s commitment to rid the state of crime with the support of the public.

I’m not kidnappers’

cook—Madam Offor

Madam Offor confirmed that her son (Evangelist Obinna Offor) and his friends kidnapped one Ahanaonu Jacinta with her vehicle, a Honda CRV at 33, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Anambra State, and brought her to her house at Arondizuogu in Imo State, but denied being their cook as claimed by the police.

She said: “My son is a musician and a prayer warrior. I was surprised he could engage in such a nasty deal to the extent of being a kidnapper. I am amazed and dumbfounded by such development.”