Kidnappers Abandon Victim As Truck Driver Blocks Escape Route

Nemesis caught up with a gang of kidnappers in Aba, Abia State as a truck driver reportedly blocked their escape route as they were fleeing with their victim at Uratta area of the city.

The victim, identified as Mrs. Merit Ikechukwu, was said to be on her way to work when a gang of kidnappers blocked her Toyota Highlander jeep near Stella Marris road, Catholic Church, Umueze road, Aba.

According to eyewitnesses, the kidnappers blind folded Ikechukwu and drove in her jeep through a bush path in the area, but residents of the area alerted soldiers on patrol, who quickly stormed the area and joined in the pursuit of the kidnappers.

“As the kidnappers escaped through the bush path on top speed, they came face to face with a truck driver, who had suspected the speeding Highlander jeep was stolen blocked the bush path and the villagers alerted soldiers, who moved in and joined in the chase,” they said.

It was gathered that on sighting the truck, which had blocked their path, the kidnappers, who were being pursued by soldiers and members of the community, abandoned their victim and escaped into bush.

While searching the surrounding bushes, the soldiers arrested a suspect identified as Prince, who claimed to have gone to the area to recover a debt. However, the suspect was later identified by the victim as the man who drove her jeep before she was blindfolded.

The soldiers also recovered the Toyota Highlander Jeep and rescued the victim. As at the time of filing this report, Army Public Relations Officer, 14 Brigade , Ohafia, Major Sidney Mbaneme, could not be reached on his mobile phone, but a soldier at the Forward Operating Base, FOB, Ngwa High School, Aba, confirmed the incident.

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Photo: Policemen Arrest Robbers While Sharing Loot

Six suspected burglars have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command in the Ikoyi area of the state.

It was learnt that the suspects were sharing their loot when they were arrested by police operatives.

Punch Metro gathered that the men, identified as Friday Eze, Stanley Ejiofor, Femi Miracle, Raphael Ijoha, Emmanuel Omojuwa and Daniel Thomas, were arrested by men of the Ikoyi Police Division on Tuesday, August 9.

The police said the gang, which was notorious for breaking into houses and stealing valuables, had other members who escaped arrest.

Around 10pm, the gang members allegedly burgled some houses on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, and drove away in a car to a junction in the area to share the loot.

A source said operatives, who were on patrol, observed the suspects sharing the stolen items in the car and arrested them.

He said, “They are notorious in the Ikoyi area for burglary. They don’t rob to avoid raising suspicion. They only wait for their target houses to be deserted before they strike.

“We were on a ‘stop-and-search’ in the area when we observed them sharing some goods inside a car around 10pm. When we arrested them and searched the car, we found four laptops, three purses, 13 mobile phones and four iPads. They confessed that they were returning from an operation. The six of them have been transferred to the Special Anti-Robery Squad, Ikeja.”

Speaking with Punch Metro, Eze, a father of two, said he went into burglary to make ends meet.

He said, “It was frustration that drove me into burglary. The situation was very critical for me and my family. I have a wife and two kids to cater to. I am not the gang leader. A friend brought all these men for the operation. We stole several laptops. I took two laptops and two iPads. I have gone for only two operations.

“I was formerly living in Lekki with my family. But when things became difficult, my in-laws took my wife and children to Ikorodu. I am the firstborn of my parents. My sisters have been sent out of school and I have to fund their studies.”

Another suspect, Thomas, said, “Friday (Eze) introduced me to the gang. We are friends. I do not rob; I only burgle houses. It was hard times that led me to this.”

The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the suspects would be charged to court at the end of investigation.

“Members of the public should continue to cooperate with the police in tackling crimes in Lagos State. The suspects will be arraigned in court at the end of investigation,” he said. 

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