Police arrest suspect, rescue kidnap victim in Abia

The Abia State Police Command says it has arrested a suspected kidnapper in Umuahia, rescued a victim, and recovered ₦830,000 ransom.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, the command identified the suspect as Ibrahim Audu, 42, while the victim was named as Onyebuchi Nwaoha, 46, both from Old Umuahia.

According to the police, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) acted on intelligence and stormed the Ogwashi Forest in Old Umuahia, suspected to be a hideout for kidnappers.

“Acting on actionable intelligence, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Abia State Police Command, combed the Ogwashi Forest in Old Umuahia, Abia State, suspected to be a hideout for kidnappers.

“During the operation, the operatives were engaged by the kidnappers in a confrontation. The kidnappers, unable to withstand the superior firepower of the officers, fled the scene.

“However, the above-mentioned suspect was apprehended and the victim was successfully rescued while the ransom of Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira (₦830,000.00), collected from the victim’s family, was recovered,” the statement read.

The command said investigation is ongoing and efforts are underway to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.

Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, noting that improved security requires collective effort.

He also urged members of the public to support crime prevention by providing timely and useful information to the police through the nearest police station.