Anambra State Police command and the State government, Tuesday, disagreed over the number of criminals killed along Nkpor-Umuoji-Ideani in Nkpọr, Idemili North Local Government Area.
According to the Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr Christian Aburime, the incident which occured on Sunday, left four deadly kidnap kingpins neutralized, while some undisclosed suspects were equally arrested.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Tochukwu Ikenga, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, reported that two of the criminals were demobilized, while two others escape and efforts were on to arrest other fleeing gang members.
A statement from Aburime read, "following the mandate and declaration by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to rid Anambra State of all criminal elements, the Anambra State Security Forces on Sunday the 7th of May, 2023 effectively neutralized a deadly gang of kidnappers terrorizing innocent citizens along the Nkpor-Umuoji-Ideani road
"The gang of Kidnappers who had hitherto terrorized innocent citizens along that axis paid dearly with their lives when Security Forces acting on intelligence report swooped on the areas and after an intense gun battle effectively despatched four of the deadly criminals to the great beyond and also made some arrests."
He added that "meanwhile those arrested are currently cooling off in detention. They are helping the security agencies in their investigation to unravel the whereabout of other kidnappers who are on the run."
But Ikenga wrote "...These joint operations yielded a major positive development on 7/5/2023 by 8:45 pm, the operatives while on routine patrol along usmusiome Nkpor, Idemili North LGA intercepted a gang of Four operating in an unregistered black Lexus SUV, recovered two locally made explosives, one Ak47 rifle, nine live 7.62 ammunition, four Ak47 magazines, Charms and other incriminating items.
"The operatives during the gun duel with the criminals demobilized two of the gang members, while two others escape. Efforts are already emplaced to arrest other fleeing gang members."
Ikenga further maintained that the command on the same date arrested arrested another four suspected gang of armed robbers/vandals at Azu Ogbunike, Oyi LGA.
The suspects who allegedly vandalised a truck suspected to have been stolen, were Mr Nwusulor Fidelis, 51; Mr Iloegunam Amobi, 44; Mr Solomon Akpagu, 51; and Mr Chidiebere Innocent, 28.
" They all confessed to the crime and they are currently helping the police with information on other syndicate members that dispossess innocent drivers of their trucks before bringing them to their criminal hideout at Azu Ogbunike," he maintained.