police say they have arrested members of a notorious gang that has been terrorizing the people of Imo and neighboring states since 2013.
The suspects were arrested on Thursday morning in Kwere Local Government Area in Rivers State on charges of kidnapping, robbery, and murder.
The gang leader, Henry Chibueze, alias ‘Vampire,’ and a few of his members died during a gunfight with the police, which lasted hours.
Last month, Vampire was rescued by his gang members in the premises of an Owerri High Court.
Others members of the gang are Obinna Elah, Arinze Abecheta, Chukwuebuka Ikeazota, Samuel Ugochukwu and Clifford Aheana.
In a release signed by the Imo State Police Command’s spokesperson, CSP Jimoh Moshood, the gang is suspected of the murder of eminent personalities in the South East/South-South region, including a member of the Imo State House of Assembly.
“Vampire was a cultist who later turned a vicious kidnapper and armed robber before he was declared wanted in 2013,” said the police PRO.
According to the police, Vampire also murdered his girlfriend Sandra and eight members of her family when the latter allegedly stole his N45million from a share of N110million ransom paid by a family of one of his victims in Omoku, Rivers State.
Police say the arrested members of the gang have confessed to a series of kidnap operations.
Items recovered from them include five AK-47 rifles, 300 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and amulets.
Police say they will all be charged to court when the investigation is completed.