Awka — FOUR persons suspected to be hoodlums, Thursday, at Oba in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, engaged the police in gun battle during their attempt to steal a two-year-old boy from the parents in Onitsha

All the four suspects were arrested by men of the State Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, and taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment following injuries they sustained during the battle with police. Also arrested was a female who was allegedly employed by the gang to look after the boy.

It was gathered that the four-man gang stormed the residence of one Philip Nweze from Ehalumona in Enugu State who just returned to his Onitsha residence after a business trip abroad and made away with the two-year-old Chidera, the male twin of the couple and an unspecified amount of dollars, leaving behind the female twin baby, Emmanuela.

Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, confirmed the incident, saying the police command was alerted after the incident which happened on Wednesday night.

He said members of SARS caught up with the hoodlums in a house at Oba belonging to one of the suspects.