JUST IN: Police, Army rescue 4 kidnap victims in Imo

The Nigeria Police in Imo State on Friday, October 4, said it has rescued four victims of kidnap in Ezioha, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state.

The police noted that the victims were rescued with a combined effort between the Force and operatives of the Nigerian Army.

According to Henry Okoye, the command spokesperson, one suspected kidnapper was killed during the operation.

Okoye said officials from the Imo Police command anti-kidnapped unit conducted the operation following intelligence on the activities of the kidnappers.

He said the team dismantled the suspects' syndicate operated by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed group, the Eastern Security Network.

"The victims include Eze Okoro of Orlu LGA, Mr and Mrs Anthony Nwosu, aged 44 and 31, both natives of Ohii in Owerri West LGA, as well as Bartholomew, 56-year-old from Benue.

"As security forces approached the hideout, the suspects opened fire but were effectively repelled, resulting in the neutralisation of one of them," he said.

Okoye added that other members of the kidnapping gang fled the location into nearby bushes with various degrees of injuries.

Some of the items recovered from the suspects include a pump-action gun, ten live cartridges, four expended cartridges, four locally-made explosives and a Biafran flag aming other items.