In a major breakthrough, the Anambra State Police Command has rescued two kidnap victims and recovered multiple arms during security operations in Ihiala and Onitsha.
According to the state police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the victims were abducted on Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Amorka Village, Uli, along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway. Armed men had intercepted their vehicle, forced them into another, and fled the scene. The victims’ abandoned vehicle was later recovered by police operatives.
The rescue occurred on April 18, 2025, following an intense patrol by a joint team of police officers from the Uli Divisional Headquarters and local vigilantes. During the operation, security forces also arrested a suspected cultist and kidnapper.
Recovered items included:
– Seven pump-action guns
– Seven live cartridges
– Three handcuffs
– A cutlass, an axe, a dagger, and other weapons
Further operations on April 17 led to the interception of a suspicious bus in Onitsha. Inside, police found a bag of rice concealing five pump-action guns, eight cartridges, and two handcuffs.
In a separate incident on the same day, officers arrested a 25-year-old suspect, Israel Akachukwu, in Nkpor. Two pump-action guns, a cutlass, and other weapons were recovered from his apartment. The suspect confessed to being a member of the Vikings Confraternity and is assisting in ongoing investigations.
Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, urged Anambra residents to remain vigilant and law-abiding. He called for prayers for peace and security during the Easter season and beyond.
