Operatives of Imo State Police Command have burst a deadly kidnap syndicate responsible for the abduction and the brutal murder of retired Major General Richard Duru.
Briefing journalists during the parade of the criminal suspects at the Command’sheadquarters in Owerri on Thursday, the Command’s Spokesperson, ASP Henry Okoye noted that the late Retired Army boss was kidnapped along Bishops Court, Area 7 Orji/Uratta Owerri, and his black Mercedes Benz G.L. 450 car with registration number LND 826 NG snatched by the deadly syndicated.
“They killed the victim after collecting a ransom of 50,000 US dollars from his family.
“The ever-gallant operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit led by CSP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa immediately commenced an intense manhunt for the criminal syndicates who are notorious on the Command’s wanted list and were able to terminate the reign of the terror group through sustain follow-up to diligently gathered intelligence which led to the apprehension of the gang leader and other members of the Terror group.
“Chukwunonso Emmanuel ‘m, a native of Uke in Idemili North L.G.A Anambra State, was arrested in Lagos while attempting to obtain a new plate number for the victim’s Mercedes Benz car. His confessions led to the Arrest of two members of the gang, Okoroigwe Goodness, 24 years ‘m’ and Innocent Ogu, 54 Yrs, old ‘m’. The suspects confessed to the crime of Kidnapping and murder of the Retired Major General Richard Duru and equally confessed membership of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) /Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Another feat achieved by the police command was the arrest of a group of armed terrorists/kidnappers who invaded the house of one Obi Fredrick ‘m’, abducted him, and took him to Okija in Anambra State, robbed him of about Nine Million Naira (N9, 000, 000) and other properties like Lexus 330 RX SUV and other valuables.
The terrorists and kidnappers gave him a deep cut on his hand and threw him inside Okija River to die but he survived through data tracking analysis which made the gallant operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to rescue the victim from the river the same night and recover his Lexus 330 SUV.
Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, commended the operatives for their gallantry display in achieving the operational feats and charged them to sustain the tempo in their unwavering commitment to curtailing the activities of criminally minded elements in the State.
