Police arrest abductors of Catholic priest
Operatives of the anti-kidnapping unit of the Imo state Police Command has arrested three suspects for allegedly kidnapping a Catholic priest, Rev Fr. Charles Nwachukwu, a parish priest in Isiala Mbano council area of the state.
He was abducted on June 16, 2017 at about 8pm while on transit along Umunkwo/ Abaja road in Nwangele council area of the state by five armed gang.
The suspects were Chinedu Odomena, 24; Ogadinma, 20 and Uzoma Mejuru, 48 all from Umuokpo Abaja in Nwangele council Area of the state.
Briefing newsmen on Tuesday at the police headquarters Owerri, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, said that following a tipoff, operatives of anti-kidnapping unit swung into action with the use of a high powered tracking device and arrested one Ogadinma Ajonuma, 20, a native of Umuokpo Abaja in Nwangele council area of the state on the June 18, 2017.
He said: “Ogadinma Ajonuma, who confessed to the crime and led the operatives of the anti-kidnapping units to Umuokpo forest where the Catholic priest was rescued on unhurt on June 18, 2017.
Further development also led to the arrest Chinedu Odomena, 24, alias Miliki also a native of Umuokpo Abaja and when he was searched, the car keys of the Highlander Jeep of the Priest was found on him.
He subsequently led the operatives to where the Highlander Jeep was parked at Umuocham in Abaja Nwangele readiness for onward movement to where it will be sold.
The suspect further confessed to have been involved in the kidnapping of another man from Ifeakala on October 16, 2016 and the kidnapping of the owner of St Cosin Petroleum Station along Egbu Road, Owerri.
The police boss said that the suspects are assisting in investigation, stressing that the identities of their cohorts who are now at large have been revealed.
In a related development, the police has declared one Chidera Njoku, a native doctor wanted for alleged gun running. According to the Police Boss , on the 18 June, 2017 operatives of the Ngor Okpala Division of the state acting on intelligence report had executed a search warrant in a Shrine in the house of Chidera Njoku of Umuagwu Alulu in Ngor Okpala.
He disclosed that during the search of the Shrine of Native Doctor the following exhibits: 82 rounds of 5.56mm live ammunitions, 3 K2 Riffle magazines, one locally made Revolver Pistol, one Human Skull , two Battle Axes, one identity card and some pictures were recovered. Ezike said that suspect on sighting the police operatives fled and coordinated efforts are being made to track him down.
