Police arrest eight for kidnapping, cultism in Anambra

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested eight suspects for various offences bordering on kidnapping, cultism, illegal possession of a firearm and armed robbery.

This was disclosed in a press statement by the command’s spokesman SP Tochukwu Ikenga, on Friday.

Ikenga said the police recovered a long gun, one locally made Barreta, ammunition, and a suspected stolen vehicle from the suspects.

According to him, the police-led joint security operatives, working on a technology-driven investigation arrested the suspects at various locations across the state.

The statement read, “Anambra police working on a technology-driven investigation arrested two suspects(names withheld) in their criminal hideout in Nnewi.

“The arrest is in a follow-up of the reported case of a kidnapped, but later released victim on August 19, 2024, in Ihiala LGA, The suspects confessed to being active participants in the crime and have already provided information to the Police that is aiding the investigation.

“Also, police-led joint security operatives, Aguata Base, acting on credible information in the early hours of 12/9/2024 stormed a criminal hideout of suspected vandals and arrested five suspects namely, Okorie Miracle, Joshua Ifeanyi Ekwa, Aneke Okorie, Mmesoma Faithful and Chukwuzekwu Mba, all males and from Umunze, between the ages of 20 – 26 years.

“The police recovered locally-made short guns, and vandalised electricity cables wires and tools, they used to commit the act. The suspects all confessed to the crime and currently assisting the Police with information to arrest other gang members and buyers of the vandalised items.”

He added, “Furthermore, operatives of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad, while on patrol today 13/9/2024 by 9:30 am along Nise/Agulu road accosted one Chigozie Ejikeme ‘m’ aged 25 years a native of Abagana who drove suspiciously in an attempt to escape security check.

“The operatives searched him and found one locally made Beretta pistol with one live 9mm ammunition concealed on his waist. The suspect, upon interrogation by the operatives, confessed to being a member of the Black Axe Secret Cult. The suspect vehicle, a black Lexus was also recovered.”

Ikenga added that all the suspects will be charged in court after the investigation.