Imo State Police Command says the recent kidnap of three medical doctors that came to offer free medical services to the sick and hapless people in Isu Local Government Area of the state, is giving it sleepless nights.
Already, the Commissioner of Police, CP, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, is personally leading the onslaught against those that kidnapped the former Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Edo State Chapter, Dr. Phillip Ugbodaga and his colleagues.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, who stated this yesterday, in an exclusive chat with Vanguard. He said some overt and covert actions were being taken to ensure the release of the kidnap victims.
“Since the news of the kidnap of the three medical doctors, operatives of the Command have been working on all leads. The CP is leading the operatives on rescue operations and the leader of the fleeing gang, who escaped by whiskers, is now known and the heat is on the criminals”, the PPRO said.
Mr. Enwerem explained that the sports utility vehicle used by the kidnapped victims, as well as the three telephone handsets belonging to the suspects, were also recovered from inside the vehicle.
“While the command is making concerted efforts to ensure the safe rescue of the victims, the command has mobilized over 500 security operatives, working in conjunction with local securities, hunters, and youth groups, to source information that would lead to the exact location of the kidnapped victims”, the PPRO said.
He affirmed that “the command is in constant communication with the immediate members of the victims’ families”, stressing that with the measures so far taken, the release of the kidnap victim was assured.
“We are discouraging payment of any ransom, while assuring members of their families that we will not rest on our oars to ensure the freedom of the victims,” he said.
“We enjoin all public spirited individuals, community leaders, and other friends of the police, to come up with useful information that would burst this and other criminal activities in the state”, the PPRO pleaded.
Vanguard recalls that the three medical doctors had hardly arrived their operational base at Isu local council area, when they were forcefully stopped by the suspected kidnappers and taken away at gunpoint. (Vanguard)
