The Imo State police Command at the weekend said they ahve dislodged kidnappers and other criminals from one of their hideouts following a distress call from a good samaritan.
He said the informant told them that he sighted hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons attacking a young man name (withheld) along Umuezorokam-Avu in Owerri-West Local Government Area with machetes in an attempt to kidnap him.
The State Police Command said they swiftly mobilized their men and stormed the scene with the assistance of the local vigilantes.
According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, “the hoodlums on sighting the police immediately opened fire on them, but were overwhelmed by the professionalism and stiff resistance showcased by their ever-gallant operatives”.
Okoye stated that the police in returning fire, gunned down two of the criminal syndicates while others escaped into the adjoining bushes with various degrees of gunshot injuries.
He pointed out that efforts are on top gear to arrest other fleeing members of the criminal syndicate and on searching the neutralized hoodlums, one locally made cut-to-size gun, two cutlasses, and charms were recovered in their possession.
The PPRO also informed that victim was rescued with a deep machete cut on his hand and other parts of his body and was immediately rushed to Federal Medical Center Owerri, where he is currently receiving medical attention while the lifeless bodies of the neutralized hoodlums have been deposited at the morgue for preservation.
