{By WISEMAN, Security Watch Desk, Awka}
The Anambra State Police Command has announced significant progress in various ongoing investigations over the past two weeks.
In a press release by SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer for Anambra State Police Command, shared with WISEMAN, it was noted that among their notable achievements included, the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu who uncovered a conspiracy and staged kidnapping on March 14, 2026.
They arrested two suspects, Chinedu Chineye Nwobi, 25, and Okwudili Nweke, also 25, while the victim, Miss Mmesoma Ifediora, 18, was rescued unharmed from a location known as the “Malaysia Forest” in Iruayika, Awkuzu.
During interrogations, the victim revealed that the kidnapping was orchestrated with her boyfriend, Obiora Okoye, to extort Three Million Naira (#3,000,000) from her parents. She disclosed they had taken a confidentiality oath and had been relocating frequently over the past two months to maintain the ruse.
Obiora, nicknamed “Stainless,” fled upon seeing the police and remains at large. The victim also admitted that her parents had already transferred Two Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (#240,000) into her Opay account as part of the ransom. Recovered items from the scene included ten SIM cards from various networks, one MTN 4G WiFi device, two pairs of women’s underwear, a native “juju” calabash, a Duos mobile phone, a necklace, a white bandage used to bind the victim’s hands and eyes, and computer cables.
Additionally, on March 18, 2026, the same squad apprehended suspect Chukwuebuka Eze, 24, who has a distinctive tattoo stating: “No weapon fashioned against me shall prosper.” He is identified as the leader of the gang involved in a kidnapping incident in Obosi, where a ransom of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (#150,000) was paid for the victims’ release, who were also robbed of their belongings.
During the arrest, law enforcement found a locally made double-barrel shotgun, five live cartridges, and a Redmi mobile phone belonging to one of the victims.
The suspect confessed to this crime and related offenses in the area, mentioning other gang members who are also on the run; the police are following up on this information for potential arrests.
These achievements stem from enhanced intelligence-based operations, strategic personnel placements, and better collaboration with other security forces and the public.
SP Ikenga Tochukwu stated vehemently that the suspects will be prosecuted upon the completion of the investigations.
