The Anambra State Police Command has arrested four suspected kidnappers linked to separate kidnapping and armed robbery incidents across the state, as part of its ongoing security operations against violent crimes.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the arrests were made by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, in separate operations carried out on July 15 and 16, 2026.
According to the statement, operatives arrested one Okoye Ibegbunam Chukwuebuka John Bosco, popularly known as “Bone,” aged 32, on July 15 during an investigation into the kidnapping of a victim in Okpanam, Asaba, Delta State.
The victim was reportedly abducted, robbed and forced to pay a ransom before regaining freedom.
Police said a search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of a locally fabricated pistol, two live rounds of ammunition, an axe and an Itel Android phone bearing the victim’s photograph as its screensaver.
The suspect allegedly confessed to participating in the crime, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang still at large.
In a related operation on July 16, operatives of the RRS, Awkuzu, working with detectives from the Ogbaru Divisional Police Headquarters, foiled an attempted kidnapping of a female Point of Sale (POS) operator at Iyiowa, Odekpe, Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area.
The Police arrested three suspects identified as Chekwube Chukwu, 32; Amarachukwu Nwobosi, 34; and Sopuluchukwu Ifeakor, 30.
A black Toyota Camry with tinted glasses and Lagos registration number LND 789HR, believed to have been used for the gang’s operations, was also recovered.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects attempted to abduct the female POS operator before she raised an alarm, attracting residents and prompting a swift police response following a distress call.
The timely intervention led to the rescue of the victim and the arrest of the suspects.
Further investigations linked the trio to the earlier kidnapping of another female POS operator at Dominion Park, Head Bridge, Onitsha, on June 3, 2026.
During that incident, the victim was allegedly abducted, dispossessed of two POS machines and Android phones, and forced to pay a ransom of N3.5 million before she was released.
Police said the suspects have confessed to their involvement and are providing useful information to assist investigators in identifying criminal receivers and other members of the syndicate.
The Command reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling criminal networks across Anambra State and urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to enhance public safety.
