Police Rescue Four Kidnapped Victims In Anambra, Arrest 10 Criminal Suspects
The operations, which included sustained patrols and targeted crackdowns, also led to the recovery of 10 firearms of various brands, sixteen expended cartridges, 46 rounds of live ammunition, four vehicles, and other incriminating items.
The Anambra State Police Command said that its operatives in collaboration with sister agencies, have rescued four kidnapped victims, including a Catholic Reverend father, and arrested over 10 suspects in a series of coordinated security operations across the state.
The operations, which included sustained patrols and targeted crackdowns, also led to the recovery of 10 firearms of various brands, sixteen expended cartridges, 46 rounds of live ammunition, four vehicles, and other incriminating items.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the command said that three of the recovered vehicles have been returned to their rightful owners.
Ikenga stated that on March 23, a joint security team, including the Police and Military, rescued Rev. Father Stephen Echezona at Ihiala.
The priest was abducted at a fuel station in Ichida but was freed unharmed after security operatives engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel.
The armed criminals, who were operating in an unregistered white Lexus SUV, were subdued, and the priest was safely recovered.
Also, on March 22, at around 7:20 AM, security operatives rescued three kidnapped victims along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway in Ozubulu.
The victims, who had suffered various degrees of injuries at the hands of their captors, were immediately taken to a hospital and are currently responding to treatment.
The police spokesperson said the police have since launched an investigation to track down the perpetrators.
On the same day, police operatives from the Obosi division, acting on intelligence, arrested a suspect identified as Kosiso Okonkwo along the Obosi-Nkpor Expressway.
A Beretta pistol was recovered from him, and during interrogation, he confessed to being a member of the Aye Confraternity.
In another operation, Ikenga said police operatives from the Special Anti-Cult Unit in Enugwu-Ukwu arrested two robbery suspects—Chibuike Ozoekwem (22) and Favour Patrick (19)—on March 18.
The duo was apprehended in an uncompleted building at Onwurah Street, Awka. Security operatives recovered a pump-action gun, sixteen expended cartridges, a battle axe, and two suspected stolen phones from them.
According to Ikenga, a victim later identified one of the recovered phones, confirming she was robbed at gunpoint on March 13, along Club Road, Awka.
He said the police have expanded their investigation to track down other members of the gang.
On Wednesday at approximately 5:48 PM, Ikenga said a police surveillance team from B Division intercepted a tricycle during a stop-and-search operation at Book Foundation, Ifite Awka.
One of the passengers, acting suspiciously, was searched, leading to the discovery of a locally made Beretta pistol.
The suspect, Somtochukwu Okoye from Umuike Village, Awka, later confessed to being a member of the Junior Viking secret cult. He also implicated another suspect, Augustine Okafor, alias “ABOY,” who was already in police custody for illegal firearm possession.
On Thursday at around 3:05 PM, officers from B Division also arrested another suspect, Richard Onwugbufo from Ugbulu Village, Oraifite, at Dynamo Junction, Ifite Awka, with a Beretta pistol and three live rounds of ammunition.
Ikenga stated that all arrested suspects are set to face prosecution upon the conclusion of investigations, noting that the Command reiterated its commitment to maintaining security across the state in collaboration with the military, other security agencies, and local vigilante groups.
