The Anambra State Police Command has arrested four suspected kidnappers in separate operations across the state, thwarting a fresh abduction attempt and recovering a locally fabricated pistol, live ammunition and other items allegedly linked to kidnapping and armed robbery.
The command said the operations also uncovered a suspected kidnapping syndicate believed to have been involved in previous abductions of Point of Sale operators, with victims allegedly forced to pay millions of naira in ransom.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday while highlighting the command’s recent security operations.
According to the statement, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, on July 15 arrested a 32-year-old suspect, Okoye Ibegbunam Chukwuebuka John Bosco, popularly known as “Bone,” over his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a victim in Okpanam, Asaba, Delta State.
The police alleged that the victim was abducted, robbed and compelled to pay ransom before regaining freedom.
Items reportedly recovered from the suspect included a locally fabricated pistol, two live rounds of ammunition, an axe and an Itel Android phone allegedly belonging to the victim, with the victim’s photograph displayed as the phone’s screensaver.
Ikenga said the suspect confessed to the crime during interrogation, adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang still at large.
In another operation carried out on July 16, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, in collaboration with detectives from the Ogbaru Divisional Police Headquarters, foiled an attempted kidnap at Iyiowa, Odekpe, Atani, in Ogbaru Local Government Area.
The operation led to the arrest of three suspects identified as Chekwube Chukwu, 32; Amarachukwu Nwobosi, 34; and Sopuluchukwu Ifeakor, 30.
Police also recovered a black Toyota Camry with tinted windows bearing Lagos registration number LND 789HR, which investigators suspect was used by the gang for criminal operations.
According to the command, preliminary investigations showed that the suspects were allegedly attempting to abduct a female Point of Sale operator when the victim raised an alarm, attracting residents and prompting a swift police response following a distress call.
“The timely intervention frustrated the kidnap attempt, leading to the rescue of the victim and subsequent arrest of the suspects,” the statement read.
The police further alleged that investigations linked the three suspects to the earlier abduction of another female POS operator at Dominion Park, Head Bridge, Onitsha, on June 3, 2026.
According to the police, the victim was allegedly kidnapped, dispossessed of two POS machines and Android phones, and forced to pay a ransom of ₦3.5 million before she was released.
The command said the suspects confessed to their alleged roles during interrogation and were assisting investigators with information aimed at tracking other members of the syndicate and suspected receivers of stolen property.
Ikenga said the latest arrests reflected the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal gangs and strengthening security across the state.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to aid the fight against crime.
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