Agency Report/
Force Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DCP Frank Mba, says 13 kidnapped victims have been rescued by the police in Lili forest at Ohaji/Egbema council area of Imo.
According to Mba, three of the suspected kidnappers were killed by the police after eight hours of a gun battle, after which four assault rifles were recovered from the suspects.
Mba, who disclosed this in Owerri on Monday, also paraded 19 suspects allegedly involved in various crimes ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, murder and child-trafficking.
He said two other suspects had been arrested on the issue of alleged kidnapping after a follow-up investigation.
Among the paraded suspects was Chukwuemeka Eze who, Mba said, allegedly murdered a 27-year-old female, Lillian Ngbawa, who just concluded her NYSC programme in Mgbidi, Oru West council area.
He said Eze allegedly murdered his victim after raping her and dumped her body in a forest where she was found.
According to Mba, Eze took his victim’s smartphone after killing her which eventually implicated him.
Mba added that the breakthrough was possible because of the Operation Puff Adder recently launched by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
Giving a breakdown of the criminals, Mba disclosed that four suspects out of the 19 paraded, were involved in armed robbery, while 12 were involved in the kidnapping.
He said one suspect was being held for murder while another one was being held for the unlawful procession of firearms and child-trafficking.
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