The Rivers State Police Command said it has rescued one Felix, a former staff of NNPC who was kidnapped on August 2, 2012, at about 10 p.m. on RD Road, Rumuodara in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
The 4-man armed robbery gang with a lady as one of its members operating in a Navy Blue Color Volkswagen Passat Saloon car, was said to have abducted their victim when he was driving into his house and whisked him away to an unknown destination.
According to the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Ben Ugwuegbulam, Felix was rescued at Aluu, near Choba in Obio/Akpor Local Govt Area, when officers of the Anti Kidnapping Unit, Swift Operations Squad (SOS) and Police Special Squad accosted the hoodlums at Aluu.
In the ensued exchange of gun fire, one of the hoodlums was killed, while others escaped, abandoning their victim.
The PPRO said efforts are being made to arrest the fleeing robbers and that the police recovered the vehicle used by the criminals in the operation.
In a similar development, three suspected notorious kidnappers who were also suspected armed robbers and murderers have been killed by the police last week.
They are, Nzeribe, ‘m’ alias ‘Nze’, former second in command to late notorious Abia State Kingpin, Osisikankwu, Samuel ‘alias’ ND and Chima ‘m’, all notorious criminals involved in series of heinous crimes in the days of the late Osisikankwu till the present time.
Among their escapades were the murder of Ambassador Ignatius Ajuru and his Police escort, murder of Mr Hycinth Azu Nwangolo, former Rivers Deputy Director and Head of Economic Service Department, murder of HRH Ben Nwaogu, traditional ruler of Nihi Etche, kidnap of five female corpers in Eberi Omuma, kidnap of 120-year old Pa Nwosu, kidnap of Hon Kelechi in Eberi Omuma, numerous bullion vans and bank robberies along Aba/PH Express way.
According to Ben Ugwuegbulam, the three suspects were arrested by Aluu Special Police check point in yet another attempt to kidnap a man in Aluu with their operational vehicle, a Honda CRV jeep Registration number (BYS)AR 845KMK, red in colour.
He said while taking the suspects to their criminal hideout to recover the rest of their operational weapons, the suspects jumped out from the vehicle and took to flight. When it was practically impossible to re-arrest them, they were fired at to prevent their escape and in the process were fatally wounded
They died on the way to hospital.
Barth Ndu
