Police arrest four suspected kidnappers, foil new kidnapping plot in Anambra

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested four suspected kidnappers in separate operations across the state, foiling a fresh kidnapping attempt and recovering a locally made pistol, live ammunition and other items allegedly linked to the kidnapping and armed robbery.

The command said the operations also uncovered a suspected kidnapping syndicate believed to be involved in previous kidnappings of outlet operators, with victims allegedly forced to pay millions of naira as ransom.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday highlighting the recent security operations of the command.

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”, for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a victim in Okpanam, Asaba, Delta State.

Police said the victim was kidnapped, robbed and forced to pay a ransom before regaining freedom.

Items recovered from the suspect reportedly included a locally made pistol, two live bullets, an ax 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 underway to arrest other gang members still at large.

In another operation carried out on July 16, operatives of the Rapid Response Team, in collaboration with detectives from the Ogbaru Divisional Police Headquarters, foiled an attempted kidnapping in Iyiowa, Odekpe, Atani, 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 revealed that the suspects were attempting to kidnap a store operator when the victim raised the alarm, attracting residents and prompting rapid police intervention following a distress call.

“Timely intervention thwarted the kidnapping attempt, leading to the rescue of the victim and the subsequent arrest of the suspects,” the statement reads.

Police further said investigations linked the three suspects to the earlier abduction of another POS operator at Dominion Park, Head Bridge, Onitsha, on June 3, 2026.

According to police, the victim was kidnapped, stripped of two POS and Android phones and forced to pay a ransom of ₦3.5 million before being released.

The command said the suspects confessed to their alleged roles during interrogation and were assisting investigators with information aimed at tracking down other syndicate members and suspected receivers of stolen goods.

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 to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to aid the fight against crime.

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