In Anambra, Hunters Rescue Kidnap Siblings, Recover Vehicles
...arrest hoodlums using phones to obtain money by threats
By Raymond Ozoji, Awka
The Anambra State Command of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) has foiled the kidnap of two siblings at Nkwelle-Ezunaka Oyi Local Government Area of the state.
The two siblings Chijioke George Igwe and Uchenna Augustine Igwe, said they were returning from a wedding ceremony on Friday 16th August, 2024, when suddenly some armed men double-crossed and opened fire, shooting sporadically into the air; bundled them out of their car and whisked them into the forest.
They said it was the rapid response of operatives of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) from Umueri Anambra-East council area that saved their lives following a distress call from a concerned citizen.
Narrating the rescue mission to HEADLINE NEWS, the Chief Security Officer of Umueri community and member of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) Chief Joseph Obaelue, said they got a distress call about 9pm on Friday 16th August and immediately swooped into the forest for rescue of the victims.
Obaelue said the victims were abducted at Nkwelle-Ezunaka but were rescued at Umueri along Onitsha-Adani forest.
He said they were on their way to handover two criminal suspects to the Police using mobile phones to threaten people that they were sent to kill them but if they part away with substantial amount of money, they won't assassinate them.
That suddenly they saw car light in the bush and wondered what the vehicle would be doing in the bush at an ungodly hour. Obaelue narrated that they immediately opened fire and shortly it was clear that they were in a gun dwell with kidnappers.
He said that the abductors absconded into the thick forest leaving the victims behind even though he said that from on the spot interrogations, they found out that the kidnappers had compelled one of the victims to transfer N1.3 Million into their account prior to their arrival at the scene, adding that the two brothers were rescued alongside a Lexus Jeep 330 and a Toyota Highlander SUV that were recovered too.
Earlier same day, Obaelue said they had trailed and tracked down two criminal syndicate who specialized in calling people with strange numbers and threaten them to part with certain amount of money, if they still want to stay alive.
He said that the two criminal suspects who operates with different SIM cards, threaten people that they were contracted to kill them but if they cooperate by paying the money they requested for, they won't kill them.
Obaelue however congratulated his men for the gallant rescue mission as well as acknowledged collaboration of the Nigerian military, the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), the Vigilante service and others in the fight against kidnappers, armed bandits, terrorist herdsmen and other criminal elements in the forest even as he also extolled the efforts of the South-East zonal commander of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) ACG Mark Okem Okonkwo, for his seamless coordination of the service in the region.
He equally thanked the Deputy Commander-General (technical operations) of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) Amb. Dr. John Metchie for his technical and logistic assistance in actualising their security operations.
While extending appreciations too to the Commander-General of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) Amb. Dr. Joshua Osatimehin for ensuring discipline, cohesion and unity of purpose in the service.
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