Notorious Kidnap Kingpin Rearrested One Month After Escaping From Imo Prison

The police in Imo State have rearrested an alleged notorious kidnap kingpin, Eze Obinna, who escaped during the infamous Owerri jailbreak back in April.

Obinna, 35, is a native of Amaimo in Ikeduru Local Government Area and was said to have returned to crime after his escape from the Imo State Correctional Center. 

According to a statement by the state’s police spokesperson, Orlando Ikeokwu, the suspect was traced to his hideout in Obinze in Owerri West Local Government Area, where he had allegedly formed another kidnapping gang. 

Ikeokwu said, “On 17th May, 2021, operatives of  the Command’s Quick Intervention Team QIT arrested one EZE OBINNA “M” 35 yrs old, a native of Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo state, over his involvement in series of kidnap incidents lately. 

“The operatives while acting on the directives of the  Commissioner of Police, CP ABUTU YARO, fdc. To rid Imo state of  crime and criminality. To take the war against violent  crime to the  den of the hoodlums,  as well as rearrests the escapee inmates of the Correctional services.  Stormed Obinze, Owerri West LGA, Imo State, arrested the said Eze Obinna  whom has since his escape from the Prison,  formed another deadly kidnap gang and have been terrorizing Owerri and environs.”

The police also recalled the suspect’s previous crimes which include kidnapping, possession of firearms and live rounds and his alleged involvement in a kidnapping. 

Ikeokwu said, “Recall that sometime in December 2020, the suspect  was  arrested  by the operatives of the Anti Kidnapping unit ,  for kidnapping a victim, where he personally  transferred the sum of five Million Naira (N5,000,000) from the victims Bank account to his own account,  and later  collected the sum of four Million Naira (N4,000,000) cash, as ransom from the same victim, while the victims Toyota Venza car is yet to be recovered. Three AK 47 Rifles with large number of ammunitions were also recovered  from them then. They were charged to court and remanded in Prison custody. However, they were set free during  the attack  on  the Correctional services on 5/4/21.

“The Commissioner of Police  has ordered the arrest of all his gang members, as well as moping up their operational arms, efforts is  ongoing in  that regard,  while investigation  is ongoing.”