Police arrest suspects as abducted Imo monarch regains freedom after 12 days
AFrom Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri 12 days in captivity, the abducted past chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Samuel Ohiri, has regained freedom.
Spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, who confirmed the development, yesterday, said some suspects had been arrested in connection with the abduction. According to Okoye, an Assistant Superintendent of Police ( ASP), the monarch was freed through the efforts of operatives after a hot chase.
He said: “Recall that the command has been working assiduously, in synergy with other security agencies, towards ensuring that Ohiri is released. Some arrests have been made. To the glory of God, he has been released, after a hot chase on the kidnappers at the forest. The command will continue to work towards stamping out all forms of violent crimes in the state.”
Ohiri was abducted on Saturday, January 6, at his palace in Odumara Obi- Orodo, in Mbaitoli Local Council of the state.
A police source said a fourman gang invaded his palace in a green Toyota Highlander Sports Utility Vehicle ( SUV) and whisked him away to an unknown destination. The monarch’s cousin, however, escaped.
The monarch’s abduction was the second time the United States- trained laboratory scientist was suffering the same date.
He was kidnapped before he took the position of chairman of the traditional rulers’ council, when some hoodlums invaded his palace, killing his father in the process.
The monarch was taken to an unknown hideout for days before the police facilitated his freedom.