The Imo State Police Command has paraded a traditional ruler in Awara, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo, Eze Andrew Okwuegbunwa and a pastor, Caleb Agu of Umuoni Agwa in Oguta LGA for alleged involvement in kidnapping and armed robbery.
The Command also paraded a pastor of the Winners Chapel in Okwudor in Njaba LGA, Joseph Anthony, for the alleged defilement of an 11 year old daughter of a fellow Pastor.
The suspects were paraded on Monday alongside 31 others who allegedly committed various crimes, ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping and rape, among others.
According to the Imo State Police Commissioner, Mr Issac Akinmoyede, the traditional ruler’s gang kidnapped one Louis Obodo at Mgbala Agwa; Inspector Oscar Mbaeri in Agwa in Oguta local government; Chigozirim Nnaji in Egwedu Atta in Njaba local government; Desmond Okonkwo in Oru West local government area; and Anyanwu Amarachi on July 19, 2020 after which the police gave them a hot chase.
In an open confession, Eze Okwuegbunwa, who hails from Obor village in Awara, said the gang paid him N3m for the use of his Lexus 330 Jeep with registration number URM 404 EL for their kidnap activities.
He however, claimed that he did not participate in the actual kidnappings.
“My Nephew took my vehicle to do kidnapping, I am not one of them. Though they have used my vehicle about four times and they gave me money,” he said.
Akinmoyede said that the syndicate abandoned their lexus 330 Jeep during an exchange of gun fire with operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and Anti-kidnapping units of the command.
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On his part, the head of the syndicate, Caleb Agu, said he provided spiritual guide for the gang.
The gang also had Ikechukwu Njoku as Protocol officer; Ebenezer Obioha, as Operational Commander and executor; Fabian Obioha, gang armourer while Bernard Uzoma, was the native doctor that provided protection from operational hazards and arrests.
The CP said that on May 15, 2020, the gang ambushed and attacked a team of NDLEA officers, during which they killed one operative, left two others seriously wounded and absconded with their rifles.
Items recovered from the gang included the sum of four million and two hundred thousand naira, one Lexus 330 SUV, four AK 47 rifles, one LAR rifle, one SMG rifle, 120 rounds of 7.62MM life ammunition, according to the police boss.
On the rape allegation, the pastor, Joseph Anthony, denied committing the act, but admitted that he had been tempted to do so.
According to him, he had just been transferred to the Njaba chapter of Winners Chapel and was waiting to be assigned his residential apartment, before another pastor offered to harbour him until he secured his own accommodation.
The CP said that the suspects would be changed to court after investigation.
