By Sunny A. David, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command says it has arrested four suspected kidnappers and recovered arms, ammunition and a vehicle in separate operations carried out last week.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the arrests on Thursday, saying the operations were part of the Command’s ongoing offensive against violent crime in the State.
On July 15, 2026, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, arrested one Okoye Ibegbunam Chukwuebuka John Bosco, alias “Bone”, 32.
Ikenga explained that the arrest was made in continuation of an ongoing investigation into the kidnapping of a victim at Okpanam, Delta State. The victim was abducted, robbed, and forced to pay a ransom before regaining his freedom.
During a search, police recovered one locally fabricated pistol, two live rounds of ammunition, one axe, and an Itel Android phone with the victim’s photograph as the screensaver.
The suspect allegedly confessed to involvement in the crime. Efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the gang still at large.
In another operation on the evening of July 16, 2026, RRS Awkuzu operatives, working with detectives from Ogbaru Division, intercepted three suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate in Ogbaru.
The suspects were identified as Chekwube Chukwu, 32; Amarachukwu Nwobosi, 34; and Sopuluchukwu Ifeakor, 30. Police also recovered a black Toyota Camry with tinted windows and Lagos registration number LND 789HR, believed to have been used for their operations.
According to Ikenga, preliminary investigations showed the suspects were attempting to abduct a female POS operator at Iyiowa, Odekpe, on the morning of July 16. The victim raised an alarm, prompting residents to alert the police, who responded swiftly and rescued her.
Further investigations linked the same suspects to the kidnapping of another female POS operator at Dominion Park, Head Bridge, Onitsha, on June 3, 2026. During that incident, the victim was abducted, stripped of two POS machines and Android phones, and forced to pay a ransom of N3.5 million before being released.
Ikenga said all four suspects have allegedly confessed to the crimes and are providing information to help police identify receivers of stolen property and other members of the syndicate.
“These operations underscore the Command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and improving public safety,” Ikenga stated. “We urge members of the public to remain vigilant and continue to support the Police with timely and credible information.”
