The Ebonyi State Police Command on Saturday, September 12, said it rescued a Methodist Church cleric, Reverend Ede Sunday, three days after he was abducted.
The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed this in a statement in Abakaliki, the state capital.
He added that the command also recovered a locally-made pistol and a stolen mobile phone in separate operations in the state.
Ukandu said the cleric was abducted on September 9 around 11:55 p.m. at Ndulo Amofia in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.
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.
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.
“Reverend Ede Sunday was rescued at St. James Secondary School, Amofia, while his vehicle was also recovered,” he said.
The PPRO said the victim had since been reunited with his family, while efforts were being intensified to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Ukandu also said that operatives of the command recovered the pistol loaded with one round of 9mm ammunition during an operation in Kpirikpiri area of Mile 50, Abakaliki.
He said the operation followed credible intelligence received on September 7 around 11:52 p.m. about a suspected cultists’ meeting around a bakery in the area.
“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 said a search of the abandoned bag led to the recovery of the pistol and a mobile phone belonging to a victim who had reportedly been robbed earlier that night.
He added that one suspect, identified as Oshim Chisom, was arrested at the scene and was assisting the police with investigation.
The PPRO said efforts had been intensified to identify and apprehend the fleeing suspects and bring them to justice.
