The Anambra State Police Command has apprehended a 34-year-old man, Nwokpoku Emmanuel, on suspicion of kidnapping and armed robbery.
Emmanuel and his gang allegedly abducted a victim and received N15 million in ransom.
According to a statement by the state police spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, the victim’s red Mercedes Benz GLE 450 was found in Emmanuel’s possession.
The police are now in pursuit of other gang members, particularly the leader known as ‘Ebuka.’
Ikenga’s statement reported, “The Anambra State Police Command have in custody one Nwokpoku Emmanuel(M) aged 34 years from Ebonyi State, living in Oduke-Obosi over a case of armed robbery and kidnapping.
“The operatives also recovered from the suspect, the victim’s red coloured Mercedes Benz GLE 450 and activated a plan to arrest other gang members, especially the leader known as Ebuka.
“It was revealed that the victim was kidnapped in a neighbouring state and was later released after a ransom of N15m was collected. The abductors made away with his vehicle before it was tracked and recovered at MCC Junction, Onitsha.”
Arrests Suspected Cultists, Others
In another development, the Police also successfully apprehended two individuals suspected to be involved in cultism and armed robbery, along with seizing various weapons in their possession.
The suspects, identified as Okechukwu Chinwuko, 27, and Ezenwa Chinedu, 22, were taken into custody by the Anti-Cultism Squad in Enugu-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.
According to a statement released by the command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, the arrest took place following a raid on a black spot in Umunaga Village in Awka South Local Government Area. The operation also led to the recovery of a pump-action gun, four live cartridges, a cutlass, criminal charms, and suspected hard drugs. Additionally, two female victims who had been sexually abused by the suspects were rescued.
In a separate incident, police operatives at Igbo-Ukwu Divisional Police Headquarters recovered valuable items including a white Peugeot J5 Boxer bus, a vandalized Lister electricity generator, a roller, pipes, iron bars, tools, and a pair of black canvas. The criminals involved in vandalizing the electricity generator managed to escape upon realizing the presence of law enforcement.
According to Ikenga, “Police operatives attached to the Anti-Cultism Squad Enugu-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State in the late hours of Saturday, December 7, 2024, acting on credible information, raided an identified black spot in Umunaga Village, Awka South LG.
“During the operation, one Okechukwu Chinwuko (m) aged 27 years of Umunaga Village and Ezenwa Chinedu (m) 22 years of Umuneri Village were arrested.
“Other incriminating objects recovered include one pump action gun, four live cartridges, cutlass, criminal charms and substances suspected to be hard drugs. The operatives also rescued two female victims who the suspects had forcibly abused sexually.
“The arrested suspects are currently undergoing interrogation on their modus operandi and further details shall be communicated in due course.”
Ikenga also added that the operatives in Igbo-Ukwu Divisional Police Headquarters, on Saturday, recovered one white Peugeot J5 Boxer bus with Reg No. AKL 896 XB, a roller, among other items.
He said the hoodlums, while vandalising a Lister model electricity generator attached to the MTN mast located opposite Saint Martin’s Catholic Church, Umudege, took to their heels and fled the scene on sighting the police team.
Ikenga added that efforts are underway to track down the fleeing suspects, and the Anambra State Police Command urges residents to provide any helpful information to aid in their apprehension. More details on the suspects’ activities are expected to be disclosed after the ongoing interrogations.
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