The police command in Anambra State said it arrested four suspected kidnappers, involved in separate kidnapping and robbery incidents across the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Awka.

He said, “As part of the ongoing security review and sustained offensive against violent crimes, the Anambra Police Command has recorded significant operational breakthroughs with the arrest of four suspected kidnappers. They were nvolved in separate kidnapping and armed robbery incidents across the state.”

Mr Ikenga said that on July 16, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, in collaboration with detectives from the Ogbaru Divisional Police Station, foiled a suspected kidnap plot in Iyiowa, Odekpe, Atani in the Ogbaru Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

He stated, “The team arrested three male suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate, and recovered a black Toyota Camry with tinted glasses and Lagos registration number LND 789HR, believed to have been used by the gang for its operations. The suspects are Chekwube Chukwu, 32, Amarachukwu Nwobosi, 34 and Sopuluchukwu Ifeakor, 30 years respectively.”

He said that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were intercepted while actively attempting to abduct a female Point of Sale (POS) operator at Atani in the Ogbaru LGA.

The police spokesman said that the victim raised the alarm, which attracted the attention of some residents and prompted a swift response by the police following a distress call.

The PPRO said that the timely intervention by the police frustrated the kidnap attempt, leading to the rescue of the victim and subsequent arrest of the suspects.

According to him, further investigation linked the suspects to the earlier kidnapping of another female POS operator, at Dominion Park, Head Bridge, Onitsha, on June 3, 2026.

He said that the suspects dispossessed the operator of two POS machines and Android phones, and compelled the family to pay a ransom of N3.5 million, before she was released.

He said that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in the crimes.

Mr Ikenga said that the suspects were currently providing useful information to assist the police in identifying and arresting their criminal receivers and other members of the syndicate operating within the state.

The police spokesman further said that in the afternoon of July 15 2026, police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, arrested one Johnbosco Okoye (Bone),  32.

Mr Ikenga who did not mention the area the suspect was arrested said that the arrest was in continuation with the ongoing investigation into the kidnapping of a victim at Okpanam, Asaba, Delta State.

He explained that the victim was abducted, robbed, and forced to pay a ransom before regaining freedom.

The PPRO said that during a search on the suspect, the operatives recovered one locally fabricated pistol, two live rounds of ammunition, one axe, and one Itel Android phone bearing the victim’s photograph as its screensaver.

He said that the suspect confessed to the crime and efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang currently at large.

Mr Ikenga said that the operations underscore the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and improving public safety in the state.

The command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue to support the police with timely and credible information to enhance security across the state. 

 (NAN)