AWKA, NIGERIA — The Anambra State Police Command has foiled a kidnap attempt, rescued a victim, and arrested seven suspects in separate security operations across the state, in a major breakthrough against criminal elements terrorising residents.
The operations, which were carried out over the past week, were disclosed on Thursday by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, during a press briefing at the Command headquarters in Awka. He said the operations were intelligence-driven and involved coordinated efforts by the police, the military, and local vigilante groups.
According to Ikenga, the first operation took place on Tuesday along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, where a gang of suspected kidnappers had abducted a traveller and were attempting to whisk him away to an unknown destination. Police operatives, acting on a tip-off, intercepted the gang and engaged them in a gun battle. The kidnappers fled, abandoning the victim, who was subsequently rescued unhurt.
“The victim was rescued and reunited with his family after receiving medical attention. We recovered a vehicle and some weapons from the scene. Our operatives are still on the trail of the fleeing suspects,” Ikenga said.
In a separate operation, police operatives arrested four suspected kidnappers in Ogbaru Local Government Area, following a raid on their hideout. The suspects were allegedly involved in a series of kidnappings in Ogbaru and its environs. Items recovered from them included two AK-47 rifles, ammunition, and mobile phones.
In another operation, two suspects were arrested in Nnewi for allegedly attempting to kidnap a businessman. The suspects were apprehended while they were allegedly monitoring the movement of their target. The police recovered a locally made pistol and a vehicle from them.
Ikenga said the seven suspects were in custody and would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations. He urged residents to continue providing useful information to the police, assuring them that their identities would be protected.
“The Command is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents of Anambra State. We will not relent in our efforts to rid the state of criminal elements,” Ikenga stated.
The successful operations have been welcomed by residents and community leaders, who have called on the police to sustain the momentum. The President-General of Ogbaru Town Union, Mr. Chukwuma Eze, commended the police for their efforts and urged them to intensify patrols in rural areas.
“We are grateful to the police for their efforts. Kidnapping has become a major problem in our area, and we hope that these arrests will serve as a deterrent to others,” Eze said.
The Anambra State Government also commended the police for the successful operations, reiterating its commitment to supporting security agencies in their fight against crime. The Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Mr. Chikodi Anarah, said the government would continue to provide logistics and intelligence support to the police and other security agencies.
“We will not allow criminals to take over our state. The government is fully behind our security agencies, and we will continue to support them in every way possible,” Anarah said.
As the investigation continues, the police have urged the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency lines. For now, the successful operations serve as a reminder that the police are committed to protecting lives and property in Anambra State.
