The Enugu State Police Command has smashed what it called notorious robbery and kidnap syndicates operating within the Enugu metropolis and other parts of the state.
The command yesterday paraded some of the suspects it arrested for various alleged crimes.
Police Commissioner Nwodibo Ekechukwu said the first syndicate, led by Etim Amos, of Abiakpo Ibo Road, Ikot-Ekpene, allegedly masterminded the abduction of a lawyer, John Abugu, at the G.R.A in Enugu.
The police chief said the syndicate was also behind the abduction of Mrs. Jane Ekweremadu at Agric Bank junction, Independence Layout, also in Enugu; Mr. Brooks Okwara, in the same area and Sandra Onu, and the snatching of her Honda CRV car, with registration number (Lagos) JJJ 447 CL, at New Haven.
Ekechukwu said the command, in a carefully-planned operation, ambushed the gang on the Itu-Calabar Road, during which other members of the syndicate attempt to escape.
The police chief said Amos, who had allegedly been posing as a soldier with an Army cap on the dashboard of any car he drove to deceive people, was shot along another gang member, Otunre Nse.
The Honda CRV belonging to Sandra Onu, in which she was said to have been abducted, was recovered from the suspects.
Also recovered were: a gun, the mobile phones belonging to the victims and a fake Army identity card bearing Corporal Etim Henry Amos.
The other suspected kidnap syndicate, which the police also burst, was allegedly led by Nonso Onyebuchi of Obeagu Awgu.
Other suspected members of the syndicate include Collins Chime, of Obinagu Udi, who is a relation of their victim and Chukwudi Azemene, of Umuoduma Aba in Abia State.
The suspects were said to have abducted Elder Chime Edwin, of Obinagu Udi, who just returned from the United Kingdom (UK), on April 2 at his home.
The suspects allegedly took him away in a Volkswagen Audi car with registration number DWK 929 PP.
The hoodlums were said to have snatched the car from its owner at Umunede, Delta State.
The police said the suspects confessed to the crimes and the stolen items recovered from them. (The Nation)
