The Nigerian Police Force on Wednesday arrested members of a notorious Kidnapping and armed robbery gang led by Henry Chibueze aka ‘Vampire’ while the leader himself was killed in a shoot out in Rivers state.
Briefing the media in Owerri, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Jimoh Moshood said, “Police Special Forces working under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Police Command, swooped on the hideout of Henry Chibueze aka ‘Vampire’ and his gang and engaged them in fierce gun battle that lasted several hours in the early hours of 02/03/2017 at Omu Awa forest Ikwerre L.G.A. of Rivers State.
“This operation was successfully carried out as the dreaded, vicious and kidnap for ransom and armed robbery kingpin, Henry Chibueze aka ‘Vampire’ and his gang who were rescued by his criminal cohorts from the Owerri High Court premises on 27/01/2017 from the custody of Officers of the Nigeria Prisons Service died during the shootout with the Police Special Forces.
Other suspects who are members of the gang were arrested and the exhibits listed recovered from them.
The FPRO said, “Henry Chibueze aka ‘Vampire’ (deceased) was a cultist who later turned a vicious and dangerous kidnapper/armed robber, and was declared wanted since 2013.
“He was responsible for several cases of kidnappings, armed robberies, murder of notable and prominent personalities in Imo State and South Eastern/7 South-South States.
“He had earlier confessed to the murder of his girlfriend Sandra and eight (8) members of her family, among them six (6) children in Lagos State.
“He (Vampire) alleged that the girlfriend stole his 45million naira share of 110million naira ransom paid by the family of one of his victims in Omoku, Rivers State.
“He is a serial killer who also confessed to have killed over Two Hundred (200) people in various kidnappings and armed robbery attacks.
Furthermore, Moshood said, “Vampire claimed responsibility for the murder of the following persons; Placid Ejimadu (Nze Ji Obi), Jonathan Ibemere aka gwuogwuo and Livinus Iwumune all natives of Agbaja Nwangele L.G.A. Imo State.
Others are the killing of an Honourable member of the Imo State House of Assembly at Orji in 2015; the kidnap/murder of a traditional rulers’ wife from Mbaise in 2015 whose corpse has not been seen till date; the kidnap/murder of a man from Malaysia at First Bank World Bank Branch Owerri and the killing of 3 members of a family including a woman from Nkwerre in 2012 after collecting ransom from the family
The FPRO said, “The living members of the Henry Chibueze aka ‘Vampire’ (deceased) gang have made useful statements to the police confessing and admitting to have carried out four (4) successful kidnap operations after the rescue of their gang leader at the Owerri High Court premises.
“They will all be charged to court on completion of investigation”. The kingpin and members gunned down by the police after the shootout are Henry Chibueze aka ‘Vampire’ Leader of the gang, Obinna Elah, Native of Orlu LGA, 2nd in Command of the kidnap gang; Arinze Abecheta; Chukwuma Ikeazota; Samuel Ugochukwu and Clifford Aheana.
Items recovered from the gang include 5 AK 47 rifles, 300 rounds of AK 47 ammunition, and Charms recovered from the body of the deceased leader of the gang.
Noting that the IGP Ibrahim Idris deployed Police Special Forces led by Intelligence Response Team to combat the spate of kidnapping and other violent crimes in Imo and other South Eastern States, the FPRO quoted the IGP assuring the good people of Imo State and other states of the Federation of adequate security and implored them to co-operate with the police personnel deployed in their localities.
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