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The police in Anambra State have announced the “release” of Daniel Onyishi, the state director of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), who was abducted recently by gunmen.
The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the release of the NDLEA director in a statement on Sunday.
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Some gunmen abducted Mr Onyishi along Winner Road, Awka, the state capital, on 12 June.
“He is currently in safe custody and receiving medical attention,” Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said.
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Rescue efforts
Mr Ikenga claimed the police collaborated with “high-powered covert” NDLEA operatives in a rescue effort to help in the “safe return” of the abducte victim.
The spokesperson did not, however, give details of the effortsord when the victim was freed.
He said the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, has briefed the Police High Command on the development.
Mr Orutugu, according to the statement, has also activated the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that the abductors were tracked down.
Abduction for ransom
Like other states in the South-east, cases of abduction-for-ransom in Anambra State have increased in recent times.
Civil servants, business owners, politicians and even students have become targets of such attacks in the state lately.
Abduction has been prohibited in Nigeria.
Nigeria enacted the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2022,) which outlawed all forms of kidnapping.
The Act prescribesa death sentence for kidnapping in a case where the abduction leads to loss of life and life imprisonment where there is no loss of life.
READ ALSO: NDLEA rehabilitates 33 drug users in Imo – Official
It was an amendment to thenow-defunctt Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2013,) which had prescribed a10-years jail term for kidnapping.
The new Act also prescribes at least a 15-year jail term for whoever pays ransom to free kidnap victims.
Several persons have been convictedofr kidnapping across Nigeria.
An Ikeja Special Offences Court, in September 2022, sentenced kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping.
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