Kidnap victims rescued in Abia

Police in Abia State have rescued the driver of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Udo Nwachukwu, who was kidnapped by gunmen. Another kidnap victim, Miss Rachael, was also rescued while her suspected abductors were arrested. The police said in a statement issued in Umuahia that Nwachukwu from Umuana Ndume Ibeku, Umuahia, was abducted by three gunmen at Umezerolo village square Umuana Ndume, where he was washing a car.

The statement reads in part: “The gunmen, who came in a green coloured Toyota Camry, took the victim in their car while another member of the gang drove the victim’s Toyota Hilux van with registration number 1 ABSG506. “The kidnappers, however, ran out of luck when a neighbour of the victim raised the alarm and called the police control room which immediately alerted all patrol cars and men at nipping points.

“The kidnappers were given a hot chase by police patrol teams and men at nipping point on Ikwuano Road cordoned off that axis. “The hoodlums had no choice than to abandon their victim and his vehicle at different locations after the military checkpoint on Ikwuano Road, when they realised that the police were closing in on them.”

The state Police Public Relations Of-ficer (PPRO), DSP Onyeke Udeviotu, said efforts were on to track and arrest the fleeing hoodlums. In a related incident, the police at Eziama Division, Aba North Local Government Area have rescued one Miss Rachael of Tip Top Road, Port Harcourt, River State in Aba, Abia State.

The victim was allegedly kidnapped by two men who gave their names as Chinonso Samuel and John Kingsley both of Amariyi Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State. The suspects were arrested by the police following a tip-off. The statement added: “According to the victim, one of the suspects approached her for direction on her way to church in Port Harcourt, River State.”