Anambra Police Arrest Four Suspected Kidnappers, Recover Pistol, Ammunition and Vehicle

The Anambra State Police Command has recorded another major breakthrough in its ongoing fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes, arresting four suspected members of kidnapping syndicates during separate operations across the state.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, on July 15, arrested a 32 year old suspect identified as Okoye Ibegbunam Chukwuebuka John Bosco, also known as “Bone.” The arrest followed an investigation into the kidnapping of a victim in Okpanam, Asaba, Delta State, who was abducted, robbed and forced to pay ransom before regaining freedom.

Police recovered a locally fabricated pistol, two live rounds of ammunition, an axe and an Itel Android phone allegedly belonging to the victim. The suspect reportedly confessed to participating in the crime, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the gang.

In another operation on July 16, RRS operatives, working with detectives from the Ogbaru Divisional Police Headquarters, foiled an attempted kidnapping at Iyiowa, Odekpe, Atani, in Ogbaru Local Government Area. Three suspects identified as Chekwube Chukwu, Amarachukwu Nwobosi and Sopuluchukwu Ifeakor were arrested, while a black Toyota Camry with Lagos registration number LND 789HR, believed to have been used by the gang, was recovered.

Police investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly attempted to abduct a female POS operator, but her distress call attracted residents and prompted a swift police response that led to her rescue and the arrest of the suspects.

The Command further disclosed that preliminary investigations linked the suspects to the June 3 kidnapping of another female POS operator at Dominion Park, Head Bridge, Onitsha. The victim was reportedly abducted, dispossessed of two POS machines and Android phones, and forced to pay a ransom of ₦3.5 million before she was released.

The suspects are said to have confessed to their involvement and are assisting investigators with information aimed at arresting other members of the criminal syndicate and their collaborators.

The Anambra State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining aggressive operations against criminal elements and urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to enhance safety across the state.