The Ebonyi Police Command on Saturday said it rescued an abducted Methodist cleric, Rev. Ede Sunday.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed in a statement in Abakaliki, that a locally made Beretta pistol and a stolen mobile phone in separate operations in the state we’re recovered.
According to him, preliminary investigation revealed that two armed men accosted the cleric in front of his church, double-crossed his vehicle, forced him out and whisked him away on a motorcycle on Sept. 9 at about 11:55 p.m. at Ndulo Amofia in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.
He said that upon receiving the distress call, operatives of the command immediately mobilised and pursued the abductors.
“As the operatives closed in on the suspects, the hoodlums abandoned the victim and fled.
“Rev. Ede Sunday was successfully rescued at St. James Secondary School, Amofia, while his vehicle was also recovered,” he said.
The PPRO said the operation followed credible intelligence received on Sept. 7 at about 11:52 p.m. about a suspected cultists’ meeting around a bakery in the area and the victim had since been reunited with his family, while efforts were being intensified to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the operatives mobilised to the location and successfully disrupted the gathering.
“Upon sighting the police, the suspects fled the scene, with one of them abandoning a bag,” he said.
Ukandu further explained that search of the abandoned bag led to the recovery of the locally made pistol and a mobile phone belonging to a victim who had reportedly been robbed earlier that night, while one suspect, identified as Oshim Chisom, was arrested at the scene and was assisting the police with investigation.
“The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Urunwa Okafor, commended the operatives for their prompt response, courage and professionalism.
“We are committed to protecting lives and property and ensuring that criminals had no safe haven in the state.
“He urge members of the public to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information to the police to support efforts to prevent and combat crime,” Ukandu advised.
