Anambra: Police rescue two kidnap victims, recover vehicles

The Anambra State Police operatives have rescued two kidnap victims and recovered two vehicles in Awada area of the state.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, made the disclosure in a statement made available to Nigerian NewsDirect on Friday in Awka.

Ikenga said victims were rescued at about 9p.m. on Thursday June 23, adding that the vehicles, a Toyota Highlander jeep with registration number: NSH 398 HA and Toyota Camry with registration number BRS 941 AA, were recovered the same day.

He said that preliminary information showed that security operatives intercepted a seven-man kidnap gang at Awada in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

“In attempt to arrest the criminals, six out of the seven members of the gang escaped and abandoned both the victims’ vehicle and their operational vehicle.

“The seventh person was arrested and lynched by an angry mob and was set ablaze before police operatives could arrive the scene,” he said.

Ikenga quoted the Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng ,as condemning the action of the mob.

According to Ikenga, Echeng also urged people who might want to take laws into their hands to always exercise restraint.

“They should endeavour to take such suspects to the nearest Police Station whenever they are apprehended.

“This would afford the Police the opportunity to conduct appropriate investigation into the nefarious activities of the suspects, and bring them to justice in accordance with extant laws,” Ikenga quoted him as saying.

Ikenga said police had initiated an operation aimed at arresting the fleeing gang members and those who took laws into their hands by setting the gang member ablaze.