kidnapped doctor rescue by Police in Owerri.

THE police in Imo have foiled the activities of a four-man kidnapping gang in Umuike Amakohia, near Owerri, and rescued one Dr Ifeanyi Okoro, who was being held by the gang.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Vitalis Onugu, told

the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday that the police acted on a tip-off on the hideout of the gang.

Onugu said the police successfully rescued the medical doctor, who worked at St. Patrick’s Hospital and Maternity, Onitsha, who was kidnapped on Sunday by the gang.

“We had been alerted days before and we laid ambush for them. Men of the police force have been sleeping in the surrounding bushes for days because we didn’t know when they would return.

“Fortunately, our efforts have not been in vain because we were able to rescue their victim,” he said.

Onugu said the kidnappers fired on sighting the police, adding that one of them was killed when the police returned fire.

He said three of the kidnappers escaped, leaving behind one AK 47 rifle with seven magazines loaded with live ammunition.

The PPRO said efforts to apprehend the suspects had been intensified and urged members of the public to come forward with any information that would aid the police.