Panic and Anxiety Grips Imo Community Over an Alleged Release of Notorious Kidnapper

Illustrative photo

 

Palpable fear has enveloped the Nguru Umuaro community in Ngor Okpala area of Imo State over the alleged release from detention a suspected kidnap kingpin by the Imo State Police Com­mand. The Nguru Umuaro com­munity in Ngor Okpala coun­cil area of Imo State has been gripped with fear and panic as the Imo State Police Com­mand have allegedly released a suspected kidnap kingpin who was arrested with six others following the kidnap of President-General of Nguru Umuaro community, Chief Reginald Amadi.

 

According to a source from the community, “Our com­munity on suspecting foul play among the men of the Police handling the matter sent a strong delegation of com­munity leaders led by our tra­ditional ruler, Eze A. Unanka to the commissioner of Police and appealed for diligent in­vestigation and prosecution of all identified suspects to rid our community of criminals.”

 

According to the source, the state Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu had applauded the delegation for their determi­nation in fighting crime in their community and had assured them of a thorough investiga­tion of the matter.

 

However, to their shock two days after the meeting, the three suspects earlier identified by the victim as his abduc­tors were released.

 

Chief Reginald Amadi, the victim who slammed the police for the hasty release of the iden­tified suspects, noted that the action of the police had caused anxiety in the community as well as put the security of the community leaders at risk.

 

According to him, “Among the three, most shocking is the release of one of the suspects from Elelem community in Ngor Okpala LGA, a noto­rious kidnap suspect who I identified during the sus­pects’ parade. For five days, they held me in a location at Elelem where the suspect comes from.”

 

He recalled that another suspect arrested in Lagos mentioned the name of as­sociates to this notorious kidnapper.

 

Chief Casmir Anyanwu, Secretary of the town union re­gretted that the police by their ac­tions had exposed the entire com­munity to a potent security risk in the hands of criminals.

 

But when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. An­drew Enwerem (DSP), said that only one person confessed to the crime and did not indict the oth­ers. He further stated that it was not the practice of the police to release kidnap suspects as it was a serious crime.