SOLDIERS KILL SUSPECTED KIDNAPPER, OSISIKANKWU, IN ABIA

Soldiers attached to a special military squad in Abia State have killed a suspected armed robbery and kidnap kingpin, Obioma Nwankwo (aka Osisikankwu).

The suspect was killed at about 3pm on Sunday during a gun battle with soldiers in a forest near Oboekwe Market Square in Ukwa East Local Government Area of the state. Residents of Aba, Umuahia and their environs were said to have gone into a wild jubilation immediately they got wind of Osisikankwu’s death.

The suspect, whow as declared wanted some months ago by the Nigeria Police Force, was believed to have been responsible for most armed robbery and kidnapping incidents in Abia State. This led to the closure of banks in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state, for two weeks some months ago.

The corpse of the suspected bandit was said to have been immediately taken to the soldiers’ camp in Asa, Ukwa West Local Government Area, and was later transferred to the state capital, Umuahia. It was gathered that the soldiers, whose superior firepower killed Osisikankwu, recovered several AK 47 guns, RPGs, General Purpose Machine Guns and RGP bombs with 59 rounds of 7.62 mm special.

Spokesman of the special military squad, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with THE PUNCH, said the suspect was killed in a forest in Ukwa East.
“The dreaded kidnap kingpin, Osisikankwu, was ambushed at about 1500 hours (3pm) today at Obokwe evil forest located behind Obokwe Market, Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State,” Musa said.