The Anambra State Police Command has arrested eight people for kidnapping, cultism, illegal firearm possession, and armed robbery.
SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the command’s spokesman, revealed the arrests in a statement issued Friday. According to Ikenga, police officers found a long gun, a locally produced Beretta, ammo, and a suspected stolen vehicle among the accused.
The arrests were made as part of a technology-driven investigation carried out by police and joint security operatives in several places across the state.
The statement stated that two suspects were apprehended in a criminal hideaway in Nnewi as part of a continuing investigation into the kidnapping of a victim, who was later released on August 19, 2024, in Ihiala LGA.
The suspects have confessed to their involvement in the crime and have supplied critical information to the inquiry. On September 12, 2024, five individuals were caught in a separate operation: Okorie Miracle, Joshua Ekwa, Aneke Okorie, Mmesoma Faithful, and Chukwuzekwu Mba, all guys aged 20 to 26 from Umunze.
Joint security personnel from Aguata Base raided a criminal hideaway of suspected vandals. The suspects were discovered with locally made short guns, vandalised electricity cables, and tools used in the crime.
They confessed and are working with the authorities to locate additional gang members and consumers of stolen goods.
Furthermore, on September 13, 2024, Special Anti-Cultism Squad agents apprehended a 25-year-old guy, Chigozie Ejikeme, on the Nise/Agulu road. Ejikeme, who attempted to dodge a security checkpoint, was discovered carrying a locally manufactured Beretta pistol and one live 9mm cartridge tucked on his waist.
