The Anambra State Police Command has announced the rescue of kidnapped victims in Umuduru in the Ihiala Local Government Area of the state after a combined team of police military and vigilantes busted the hideout of kidnappers in the state.
The command spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed the operation in a press statement made available to journalists on Tuesday. He explained that the operation’s success led to the arrest of a suspected kidnapper in the state. The suspect had confessed to being a member of the kidnappers terrorising the state, especially in the Ihiala local government area.
The PPRO noted that the rescue operation led to the discovery of some individuals held hostage by the kidnappers in the state; he noted the police officers, in their combined effort with other military formations in the state, ensured that victims were rescued unhurt during the operation.
It was disclosed that the rescued victims had been released to reunite with their families after assessing their health conditions; the PPRO further noted that the operations were still ongoing in the state with a view of rescuing more abducted individuals.
In a related development, the member of the Nigerian Medical Association in the state has issued a shutdown threat to the hospitals in the state if the member Dr Steven Ezeh, who was abducted on the 15th of August 2024, was not rescued by the police, the medical practitioner was kidnapped by some unknown gunmen from his home in Umunnamehi village, Ihiala LGA of the state.
In the threat issued, the NMA, in a statement after an emergency meeting conveyed in the state, stated that the medical team in the government hospitals in the state would withdraw their services if the abused colleagues were not rescued in forty-eight hours.
The statement was signed by the chairman and secretary of the NMA, respectively, in the state, Dr. Princeston Okam and Dr. Obiaeli Ifeanyi. They frowned at the abduction of the medical person, which happened due to the level of insecurity in the state. They advised the security personnel in the state to act and improve the situation.
They confirmed that the abducted colleague was a member of NMA but was in private practice as the managing director of Vera Clinic Ihiala. The kidnappers, according to the statement, have demanded the payment of N30 million naira before his release. They further explained that he was arrested in front of his home in Ihiala.
They noted that at the expiration of the 48 hours, the members of NMA in the state will leave their duty post until the member’s release is secured. The statement urged the Anambra State Government to act and secure the immediate release.
They further noted that the members will hold another emergency meeting to examine the level of progress made by the government and the agencies in releasing the abductee.
The NMA, in the past week at the national level, has issued a strike notice to the federal government over the abduction of their member, Dr Ganiyat Popoola, who has been in the hands of a kidnappers for over seven months. He was abducted alongside his husband, but he was released while the wife was held back.
