Crime
Police Rescue Kidnap Victims, Recover Heavy Weapons, Bust Child-Trafficking Ring In Anambra
The Anambra State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has recorded major breakthroughs in its ongoing crackdown on violent crimes, rescuing kidnapped victims, recovering heavy weapons, arresting suspected cultists, and dismantling an alleged child-trafficking network across the state.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ikioye Orutugu, said the Command had intensified intelligence-led operations against kidnapping, cultism, armed violence, sexual offences, and child trafficking.
According to him, one of the biggest breakthroughs came on May 10, 2026, when police operatives rescued four kidnapped victims, including the Chief Medical Director of Crown Hospital, three days after they were abducted.
Orutugu disclosed that the rescue followed a fierce gun battle between police operatives and suspected kidnappers at their hideout in Obosi.
“In the course of the operation, two armed suspects were neutralised, while operatives recovered one locally made pistol, 100 rounds of live GPMG ammunition, 23 expended rounds, and three vehicles, including a silver Lexus RX 350 belonging to one of the rescued victims,” he said.
The police commissioner, however, revealed that a police officer lost his life during the exchange of gunfire, while two others sustained injuries.
“The officer paid the supreme sacrifice in active service to the nation. The Command honours his courage, gallantry, and dedication to duty,” Orutugu stated, while commending the Anambra State Government for pledging support for the deceased officer’s family and treatment of the injured personnel.
He added that the building where the victims were rescued had been cordoned off after angry residents attempted to set it ablaze.
The police boss also disclosed that operatives carried out strategic clearance operations in Owerre-Ezukala, targeting criminal camps linked to a proscribed secessionist group.
According to him, one suspect identified as Nnamdi Nkemdilim Ogbonna, said to be a top commander of the group, is already in custody.
He said the operation led to the recovery of a General Purpose Machine Gun with about 2,000 rounds of live ammunition, two fabricated rocket launchers with 25 propellers, 10 Improvised Explosive Devices, one locally made Beretta pistol, two pump-action guns, three hand grenades, and other dangerous items.
“The operatives also dislodged the armed criminals and sustained operational dominance in the area to prevent any regrouping,” he said.
In another operation, police operatives arrested a suspected cultist identified as Favour Izunna, alleged to be a member of the Vikings Confraternity.
The police said the suspect led operatives to the recovery of a pump-action gun, seven live cartridges, a locally made Beretta pistol, and five rounds of live ammunition.
Orutugu said the suspect allegedly confessed to participating in multiple killings in Obosi and surrounding communities, including the murder of two victims identified as Emeka Chukwuka and Chinelo Onyeka.
The commissioner added that efforts were ongoing to arrest other fleeing gang members linked to the cult group.
On crimes involving children and vulnerable persons, the police commissioner revealed that five suspects had been remanded over alleged sexual offences and child abuse cases in Awka.
Among them, he said, was a father accused of having unlawful sexual relations with his biological daughter in Oko.
“The Command views crimes against children and vulnerable persons as grave violations and assures the public that all cases involving sexual abuse, violence against children, and related offences will be thoroughly investigated and diligently prosecuted,” he said.
The Command also announced the arrest of a female suspect identified as Chinazo Winners Anyasirikwu over alleged child-trafficking activities in Aguata.
According to the police, 12 children — seven girls and five boys aged between one and 20 years — were rescued during the operation.
“The children have been placed under protective care while investigations continue to uncover the full network and possible collaborators connected to the criminal act,” Orutugu stated.
Reaffirming the Command’s resolve to sustain ongoing offensives against criminal elements, the commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting security agencies with credible information.
“We shall continue to strengthen security, uphold justice, and make Anambra State increasingly hostile to criminals,” he added.
The arrest was effected by troops of Operation Hadin Kai according to an X post by security professional, Zagazola Makama.
Identifying the suspect as Private Mohammed Yusuf of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Training Facility, NAOTF, Lagos with service number: 23NA/84/1939, Makama said he was apprehended by troops of 7 Provost Group led by the Acting Commander at about 6:30pm on July 25, 2026 by.
He had earlier absconded from his unit and travelled to Maiduguri on July 7, 2026, where he allegedly went into hiding.
This made the army high command to declare him wanted.
According to Makama, “The suspect is currently in the custody of the 7 Provost Group, where he is undergoing further investigation into the alleged supply of military accoutrements to terrorist elements and the possible involvement of other collaborators.
“The arrest is a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle insider networks aiding terrorist groups, adding that investigations are continuing to establish the full extent of the suspect’s activities and identify any accomplices,” Makama said.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 55-year-old Lagos businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, over an alleged attempt to export 3.30kg of cocaine concealed in the walls of cartons used to package foodstuffs destined for the United Kingdom.
The NDLEA said Chinedu, a clothing trader at the popular Balogun Market on Lagos Island, was arrested on Thursday, July 23, 2026, following the interception of the cocaine consignment at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, a day earlier.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, three cargo agents—Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim—were initially arrested for handling the shipment.
The agency said their arrests led to the apprehension of Kenneth Okakpu, who allegedly delivered the consignment to the cargo agents for shipment to the UK.
Okakpu’s arrest, according to the NDLEA, provided investigators with information that led to the identification of Chinedu as the alleged kingpin behind the operation. He was subsequently arrested while allegedly attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the UK.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 31-year-old entrepreneur, Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, at her residence in Surulere, Lagos, following the seizure of 2.80kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.
The agency said the consignment arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight on Monday, July 20, 2026, before Chukwu-Edo was arrested the following day.
Also at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives recovered 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, with an estimated street value of over N2.2bn, from a shipment that arrived from India aboard an Air Maroc flight.
The agency said the recovery followed intelligence-led operations and a joint examination of the cargo on Friday, July 24.
This came shortly after NDLEA operatives intercepted a consignment of tramadol concealed inside containers of black soap and allegedly destined for the UK at a courier company in Lagos on Wednesday, July 22.
At the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives also uncovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud weighing 2,388.5kg, with an estimated street value of over N7.1bn.
The drugs were allegedly concealed inside three vehicles packed in a shipping container. The consignment was uncovered during a joint examination on Monday, July 20.
In Katsina State, NDLEA operatives arrested 30-year-old Mustapha Sani during a patrol operation at Baure, Safana Local Government Area, and recovered 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition allegedly concealed on him.
The ammunition reportedly comprised 200 rounds of 7.62mm and 123 rounds of 7.6mm.
Another suspect, 30-year-old Abubakar Amadu, was arrested during a stop-and-search operation at Jere, along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, with 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition allegedly concealed inside kegs of red oil.
The NDLEA said both suspects had been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.
Meanwhile, in Edo State, the agency said its operatives recovered 1,286kg of cannabis and 86kg of cannabis seeds during a raid on a warehouse in Ilushi community, Esan South-East Local Government Area, on Sunday, July 19.
The operation also led to the arrest of 45-year-old Ojore Onweze, who was allegedly found with 60kg of skunk, and 30-year-old George Agwumede, who was allegedly arrested with 13kg of the same substance.
According to a statement on Friday, the arrested officers are: “AP/No. 207454, ASP Elomore Sodayo; AP/No. 332012, Inspector Adefila Adewale; AP/No. 332449, Inspector Olorunfemi Opeyemi; and AP/No. 332369, Inspector Odusola Peter.”
Speaking at the command headquarters in Akure on Friday, the state Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, said the police had zero tolerance for indiscipline and unprofessional conduct.
He added that a comprehensive investigation had been ordered to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the level of culpability of each officer involved.
He added that officers were expected to conduct themselves with the utmost professionalism, respect human dignity and comply strictly with the Force’s Code of Conduct and Standard Operating Procedures.
“The Nigeria Police Force is a disciplined and professional institution that does not condone any form of misconduct, incivility, or actions capable of undermining public confidence, promoting ethnic division, or bringing the Force into disrepute,” the commissioner said.
He assured the public that the investigation would be conducted to determine the facts of the case, adding that any officer found culpable would face appropriate disciplinary action.
This was said to be part of renewed efforts to tackle insecurity.
Disu gave the directive on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
According to the IG, the order followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive that the persistent insecurity in Benue State must be brought to an end.
He stressed that only authorised security personnel were legally permitted to bear firearms, warning that the era of passive policing was over.
“You cannot move around freely carrying arms as if there is no law and order in this country. It will not be tolerated,” he said.
Disu disclosed that police officers had been empowered under Force Order 237 to respond decisively to armed threats without waiting for directives from superior officers.
“We are tired of losing our men. We are tired of police officers, soldiers, and other members of the security agencies dying anyhow.
“They have been instructed to shoot at sight. They have been trained to do what is necessary. But we will not succeed without the cooperation of all of you.”
He called on residents to support security agencies with credible information, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to the fight against armed criminality.
Benue State has witnessed repeated attacks by armed groups in recent months, resulting in the loss of lives, displacement of residents and destruction of property.
The federal government has continued to deploy additional security personnel and adopt tougher measures aimed at restoring peace in the state.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Fresh fears have gripped residents of Ifite Awka following an alleged plot by suspected gunmen to establish camps in the area where four Fulani herders were killed two days ago.
Security reports indicate that the attack may have been aimed at scaring away visitors to the bush in an attempt to facilitate the establishment of new camps in the area.
Residents recalled that similar tactics had allegedly been used by criminal elements to take over communities, often with the assistance of local collaborators.
The area shares boundaries with Awka North Local Government Area, where there have been reports of gunmen operating in some communities.
Following the development, youths from Ifite Awka have stormed the Ifite Agu area in a manhunt for the suspected gunmen.
The development comes as Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has issued a fresh directive to traditional rulers and President-Generals (PGs) of communities to take charge of the security architecture in their respective areas in conjunction with local security operatives and the mayors of the 21 local government areas.
It was gathered that as early as 5 a.m., some youths in the area had moved into the bushes in search of the suspected gunmen and cattle reportedly missing following the incident.
The youths were accompanied by local hunters who assisted in the search.
Speaking with reporters, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Christian Aburime, confirmed the fresh directive to traditional rulers and President-Generals of communities across the state.
He said, “We have a government that is people-oriented and that is the government of Prof. Charles Soludo, who is a man that loves the people, is at home with the ordinary people and feels their pains.”
Aburime described the incident as unfortunate and urged the police and other relevant security agencies to take immediate action.
He noted that traditional rulers and President-Generals are the first points of contact when it comes to the security of lives and property in their communities, adding that the governor had reiterated his charge to security stakeholders to take control of security in their respective areas.
He, however, said the possibility of sabotage could not be ruled out, but added that it would be premature to draw conclusions before the completion of investigations by the relevant security agencies.
“The issue of sabotage against security in Anambra State cannot be ruled out, and that could just be an attempt to undermine the efforts of the government. But I cannot categorically tell you that it is an act of sabotage. We have to wait for the investigations of the security agencies before drawing conclusions,” he said.
He added that the Agunechemba Security Squad was working to improve security in the state, noting that residents had commended the governor for the improved security situation.
“We have a good security architecture in place, and I can tell you that this could just be an isolated incident. Everything necessary that needs to be done will be done in that regard,” Aburime said.
He stressed that security was the responsibility of everyone, regardless of social status or position.
“It is very simple, and the governor has always said that security is everybody’s business. When it happens, it affects everyone, irrespective of class or position,” he said.
According to him, “The President-Generals and traditional rulers are the first points of security in their communities and should be able to ensure that there is no security breach in their respective localities.”
He urged residents to provide useful intelligence to security agencies, assuring them that their identities would be protected.
“If you see something, say something. These people doing these things are human beings, and they live in the localities. People should be able to know them. They should avail us of intelligence reports, and that will help us fish them out. Your identity will always be protected,” he said.
-
Education9 hours agoHostel Building Collapses at Federal Polytechnic Oko, Students Feared Trapped
-
News4 days agoPresident Tinubu Approves Expansion Of Nigerian Army To 12 Divisions
-
Crime4 days ago
Tension As Gunmen Plot to Establish Camps in Awka Capital
-
News3 days agoYour votes will count in 2027, INEC chair assures Nigerians
-
News12 hours agoFG Budgets About N1tn for SUVs, Empowerment Amid Rising Borrowing Pressure
-
Crime3 days ago
Shoot anyone with illegal firearms, IG orders police
-
Health3 days ago20,966 Nigerian Health Workers Migrated Abroad in One Year – Report
-
Politics1 day agoWhy Buhari didn’t openly support Tinubu in 2023 APC primary — Ex-SGF Babachir