Izuchukwu Anoloba, a 35-year-old pastor of Apostolic Church of Christ in Eziama Osuama, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, has been paraded by the Imo Police Command for allegedly kidnapping a Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Fidelis Ekemgba.
This was disclosed by the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Hussaini, while parading Izuchukwu alongside other suspects at the Command’s headquarters in Owerri.
According to the Police, they were able to breakthrough via credible intelligence on the activities of the kidnapping syndicate.
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Apart from Reverend Father Ekemgba, of St Peter Catholic Parish in Umunohu, Amakohia Ihitte, Amazu in Obowo Local Government Area, 12 other kidnap victims were also rescued.
According to the Police, “Sequel to the kidnappings of the above-named victims, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Command on receipt of the report, commenced a high profile investigation where both credible information and technical intelligence were gathered, which led to the arrest of one Ifeanyi Ohajimkpa, male, aged 52years in Asaba Delta State.
“On interrogation, the suspect made a confessional statement which led to the arrest one Kingsley Obimunonye, a notorious armed robber/kidnapper who has been on the wanted list of the Command for his involvement in several armed robberies and kidnapping cases in the state in recent times. When interrogated, he made the useful statement, confessing to the kidnapping of one Nwabueze Ashama on 22/8/2021, also the kidnapping and murder of one Lilian Egwurugwu on 23/11/2021 and the kidnapping of Rev. Fr. Fidelis Ekemgba on 17/9/2021, in the company of his gang namely; Ifeanyi Ohajimkpa Emmanuel Oguguo aka ‘EZE MMUO’, Stephen Ndukwu aka ‘ONYE ISIALA; Augustine Agubuike;Prince Godwin; Monday Oyams; Divine Gabriel Ugochukwu aka ‘COMPUTER’; and Chibueze Iwuoha.
“On further interrogation of the arrested suspects, they revealed their hideouts which led to the arrest of one Richard Nworie ‘m’, an escapee of Owerri Correctional Centre and Chukwuemeka Godwin Ogu ‘m’ and the recovery of one AK47 Rifle with Breach Number AB: 356859.
“They also confessed to the robbing of the Emekuku Branch of First Bank Plc, Exhibits recovered from the suspects includes: -Two locally-made pistols, One Pump Action Gun, Four live cartridges, Two expended cartridges, Four live Cartridges, Two Pump Action guns, Two locally made pistols, Twenty-two live cartridges, One AK 47 Rifle with Magazine loaded with 25 rounds of Ammunition, One Blue Coloured Toyota Camry 2.4, One Gray Coloured Toyota Camry 2.7 Spider, One Coffee Colour Toyota Camry 2015 model One Black Toyota Sienna and One Red Toyota Corolla Car.“
Pastor Izuchukwu on his part said: “I have gone to the Catholic priest and begged him for forgiveness and told him I have repented.”
In recounting his experience, Fr. Ekemgba, said: “I wanted to end my life on that day as I was rough handled and pinned down. They emptied my account with my ATM and did not release me until we paid them N5 million.”
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