The Anambra Police Command says it has dismantled an armed robbery and kidnap syndicate with the detention of five suspects in Isiagu, near Awka, the state capital.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Awka on Thursday.
Ikenga stated that the suspects were caught, following a report that somebody was abducted in his farm at Isiagu, and later released after ransom was paid.
“The command in a swift operation on August 27, caught five suspected members of a notorious armed robbery and kidnapping syndicate.”
According to him, acting on credible intelligence, Police Operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu stormed the suspects’ hideout at Notoko, Awka.
“The operation led to the detention of the following persons: Michael Nwobodo, male, 30, Friday Eze, male, 29, Uche Okolo, male, 23, Chinedu Gilbert, male 29 and Dominic Oraz, male, 38,” the PPRO added.
He further stated that some of the exhibits recovered from the suspects, included six automatic pump-action guns, 63 rounds of live cartridges, one microscope, five machetes, one military cap, two police teargas canisters and handcuffs.
Other items were one rocket launcher, charms, three Motorola walkie-talkies, one jack knife, one power bank and ₦26,000 cash.
The police spokesman said that during interrogation, Oraz confessed to having deserted the Nigerian Army in November 2024.
He said that the command had commenced enquiry with the army authority to guide the police action and prosecution of other suspects.
