Operatives of the Ebonyi State Police Command have neutralised three suspected killers of the staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and rescued his kidnapped wife.
The operatives were also said to have arrested no fewer than eight members of the criminal gang.
SaharaReporters had reported that late Emmanuel Igwe, an Assistant Electoral Officer (AEO) of INEC was on Sunday, June 18, killed by suspected kidnappers operating along Ishiagu/Mpu road and abducted her wife.
The Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area, Mr Emmanuel Aja, who confirmed the arrest and killing of three of the suspects to journalists in Abakaliki, noted that the hoodlums were busted at their hideout in Lokpanta, Umunochi Council Area of Abia state on Sunday.
While commending the men of the Nigeria police force for their courage and gallantry, he pledged that the council would not spare in ridden the area off criminals.
He said that the police had launched a manhunt to bring down the remaining fleeing suspects, while assuring that all the suspects would be arrested and brought to justice.
“The successful operation of the Special Squad of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Ebonyi Command of the Nigeria Police has led to the arrest of no fewer than eight suspected killers of the INEC staff in Ebonyi while three of the suspects were neutralised in the operation.
"The killers, suspected to be kidnappers who also abducted their victim’s wife were arrested at their hideout in a forest at Lokpanta in Abia state on Saturday, June 24.
“Efforts are being intensified to apprehend the leader of the criminal gang nicknamed ‘Alhaji’ who fled during the gun duel between the gang and the police.
“The suspected kidnappers are allegedly responsible for the various kidnappings and other criminal activities happening in the council area,” Aja said.
The chairman who expressed his administration’s commitment to rid the LGA of crimes called on the people of the area to always volunteer useful information to the police on the activities of hoodlums in their various areas.
“Security is everyone’s business, when you see something, say something in that way, we will be several steps ahead of the criminals,” he added.
Meanwhile, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebonyi Command was yet to react to the arrest and killing of some of the suspects.