Police rescue 84-year-old woman, daughter from kidnappers

An 84-year-old woman, Mrs. Roseline Odoh, and her daughter, Josephine Odoh, have been rescued from kidnappers in Enugu State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the two women were abducted from their family house in Ogbelle Ohullor, a community in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, on September 22, by a gang of kidnappers.

The kidnappers subsequently got in touch with their family members to demand an unspecified amount of money as ransom.

But luck ran out on the kidnappers, as about 24 hours later, on September 23, operatives of the Enugu State Police Command swooped on their hideout to rescue the hostages.

The spokesperson of the Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the development, explained that the police were able to free the women with the aid of information from members of the public.

Our correspondent gathered that the police traced the kidnappers to their hideout in a bush at Orokam, in neighbouring Benue State.

“The kidnappers engaged the police in a gun battle, during which one of the hoodlums, Nnabuike Ukwueze, alias Nwansukka, sustained fatal injuries.

“Ukwueze was confirmed dead when he was taken to a hospital. We also arrested other members of the gang,” Amaraizu said.

He identified the arrested kidnappers as Ernest Ikeani, Sunday Asogwa and Nonso Nwude.

A Renault car with number plate, UWN 992 LN, which the kidnappers used in their operations, was recovered from the hideout.

The 84-year-old woman and her daughter were also rescued unhurt during the raid.

The police spokesman said the kidnappers would be arraigned in court soon.

He added that the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, called for sustained collaboration between members of the public and the police.