Police gun down six kidnap suspects in Anambra

The Anambra State Police Command has gunned six kidnap suspects at Azia, Ihiala local Government Area of the state.

According to the police, the kidnappers were gunned down as  they tried to escape with their victim.

The state Police Public Relations officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, said the kidnap suspects had kidnapped one Mr. Sunday Okoye from Awka and were headed for the neighboring Delta state when luck ran out of them as they encountered the men of the Anambra state police command.

Chukwuemeka spoke with newsmen at the headquarters of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Awkuzu.

The suspects, a six man gang, opened fire on the police and in the gun duel that lasted for about five hours, four of them lost their lives.

The kidnap victim however sustained minor bullet injuries and is presently receiving treatment in a hospital.

Two of the remaining kidnaps suspects arrested alive also later gave up the ghost due to severe gunshot wounds.

Mr. Chukwuemeka also revealed that the notorious gang was responsible for the death of one Deputy Superintendent of Police and sector commander of Central Police Station, Onitsha, Mr. Emma Ochiobi, who was gunned down in a mechanic workshop this year.

Three other unlucky victims kidnapped by this same gang since December last year have not been seen till present.

The Anambra state police spokesman also revealed that dangerous weapons recovered from the kidnap suspects includes three AK47 rifles, 36 magazines and 446 rounds of AK ammunition.