Police bust kidnappers’ den, rescue victim in Anambra

The Anambra State Police Command has busted a kidnappers’ den located in Umuduru in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.

The command said its combined team of police, military and vigilantes carried out the operation and during which a kidnapped victim was rescued unhurt.

This was disclosed in a press statement issued by the command spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, on Tuesday.

Ikenga added that the feat was achieved following the arrest of a suspect name(withheld) a few weeks ago and his confession of being a member of a criminal/notorious kidnap gang terrorising the state, especially in Ihiala.

The statement read in part, “In an ongoing operation in Ihiala, a combined team of police, mmilitary and AVG operatives busted a criminal den at Umuduru, Ihiala and rescued a kidnapped victim unhurt.

“The feat is following an arrest of a suspect name (withheld) a few weeks ago and his confession of being a member of a criminal/notorious kidnap gang terrorising the state, especially in Ihiala.

“The rescued victim has been debriefed and released to the family, while operations are still ongoing. Further development shall be communicated, please.”

PUNCH Metro reports that members of the Nigerian Medical Association in the state had threatened a total shutdown of hospitals in the state following the kidnap of their member, Dr Steven Ezeh, who was kidnapped by yet-to-be-identified persons at his residence in Umunnamehi village, Ihiala LGA on August 15.

The NMA which met during an emergency general meeting on Monday issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the release of Ezeh or they withdraw their services across the state afterwards.

In a communique signed by Dr Princeston Okam and Dr. Obiaeli Ifeanyi, the body’s Chairman and Secretary respectively condemned the rising spate of kidnappings and insecurity in the state and called on the government and security agencies to arrest the situation.

The doctors said, “Our colleague, Dr Stephen Ezeh, was kidnapped in front of his residence at Umunnamehi Village, Ihiala, on Thursday, August 15, 2024.

“Eze is a private practitioner and Managing Director of Vera Clinic Ihiala. The kidnappers have requested N40m ransom at first and subsequently N30m in the last 24 hours.

“A 48-hour ultimatum is hereby given to the Anambra State Government to secure the immediate release of Dr Ezeh.

“If at the expiration of the above timeline, our member’s release is not secured, all the doctors in Anambra State under the aegis of NMA-Anambra will down tools until our member is released.”

They further said an emergency meeting would be convened within 48 hours to review the progress made so far.