Men of Imo State Police Command have arrested nine notorious kidnappers and rescued two victims in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of the state.

Spokesperson of the command, CSP Michael Abatham, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, said the suspects were arrested following a report of the kidnapping of one Dominic Chukwuma and Silas Nnawubia on 30th April.

The operatives immediately swung into action after gathering both credible and technical intelligence where the radar revealed the location of the criminal's hideout in Ahiazu Mbaise.

"The police operatives on 5/5/2022 at about 2350 hours, stormed the kidnapper’s den and arrested one Obinna Onuoha age 35 years, a native of Umuegwu Mpam and Igbokwe Joseph age 35 years, a native of Umuchoko Ihitte Aforukwu, both natives of Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo State and the victim held in captive was gallantly rescued unhurt," the statement read.

"In the course of interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime of kidnapping and revealing how they escaped from Imo Correctional Centre Jail break of 5th of April , 2021 , and after their escaped, they got a safe hideout in Ahiazu Mbaise, formed a kidnapping syndicate with their hideouts in strategic areas in the State. And have been the ones involved in most of the deadly kidnapping incidents recorded in the state.

The suspects later took the police operatives to their various hideouts in the state where most of their gang members were arrested.

Those arrested includes, Tochi Chilak 'M' age 27 years, a native of Ezeala Ihitte in Aboh Mbaise LGA of Imo State, Sunday Richard 'M' age 32 years, a native of Ikom in Cross River State, Comfort Ogbo 'F' age 35 years, a native of Gwer West in Naka LGA of Benue State, and Igbo Simeon 'M' age 33 years, a native of Gwer West in Naka LGA of Benue State.

Others are; Cyril Iwuagwu 'M' age 65 years, a native of Umegwu Mpam in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo State, Nkechinyere Ibe 'F' age 35 years, a native of Umuoyoka Ihitte Aforukwu in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo State, and Ebo Ubochi 'M' age 26 years, a native of Umuaraku in Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo State.

Items recovered from the hideout include; one AK-47 rifle, breech number 1142 with eighty-four rounds of live ammunition, four locally made Pistols, forty-six rounds of live cartridges, one Toyota 4Runner SUV vehicle belonging to the victim, multiple banks ATM cards stolen from their victims and the personal belongings of the victim.

The PPRO said that the victims have since being reunited with their family members and aggressive manhunt is on to arrest the remaining members of the syndicate at large.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, while commending the officers and men for their proactiveness and gallantry, thanked Imolites for their continuous support to the Command.