The Anambra State Police Command has arrested eight suspects for offences related to kidnapping, cultism, illegal possession of firearms, and armed robbery.
The arrests were announced on Friday in a statement by the command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.
According to Ikenga, police operatives recovered a long gun, a locally-made Beretta, ammunition, and a suspected stolen vehicle from the suspects.
The arrests were part of a technology-driven investigation conducted by police-led joint security operatives at various locations across the state.
The statement revealed that two suspects were apprehended in a criminal hideout in Nnewi as part of an ongoing investigation into the kidnapping of a victim who was later released on August 19, 2024, in Ihiala LGA.
The suspects have confessed to participating in the crime and have provided vital information aiding the investigation.
In a separate operation on September 12, 2024, five suspects, identified as Okorie Miracle, Joshua Ekwa, Aneke Okorie, Mmesoma Faithful, and Chukwuzekwu Mba, all males within the age range of 20 – 26 from Umunze, were arrested.
The joint security operatives from Aguata Base raided a criminal hideout of suspected vandals.
The suspects were found with locally-made short guns, vandalised electricity cables, and tools used in the crime.
They have confessed and are cooperating with the police to identify other members of the gang and buyers of the stolen items.
Additionally, on September 13, 2024, operatives of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad arrested a 25-year-old man, Chigozie Ejikeme, along the Nise/Agulu road. Ejikeme, who tried to evade a security checkpoint, was found with a locally-made Beretta pistol and one live 9mm round concealed on his waist.
He confessed to being a member of the Black Axe Secret Cult. The police also recovered the suspect’s black Lexus vehicle.
Ikenga noted that all the suspects would be charged in court once the investigations had been concluded.