Police nab two suspected kidnappers, recover victim’s car in Anambra

Anambra West Local Government Area’s famed kidnapping gang was destroyed by the Anambra State Police Command, and two of its members were taken into custody.

The suspects allegedly kidnapped the victim on June 26 in Aguleri, Anambra East LGA, and demanded N4.5 million in ransom from the victim’s family before releasing him but keeping his car.

When one of them traveled to Agulu in the state’s Anaocha LGA to look for a buyer for the vehicle, police officers detained them.

In a statement on Saturday, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the state police’s spokesman, revealed the news.

Ikenga said, “On July 18, 2023, police detectives were alerted to one Chukwuebuka Esulo from Ebonyi State who was seeking a buyer in Agulu, Anaocha LGA, for a black Mercedes Benz GLK SUV registration number BLF 746 EA.

“The owner of the vehicle had earlier been reported kidnapped in Aguleri on June 26, 2023, and the sum of N4.5m was extorted as ransom from the family before he was released.

“Detectives swooped on the suspect and arrested him for questioning. He confessed to being a member of the kidnap gang and disclosed that he was sent from their camp to sell the car.

“On the orders of the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Aderemi Adeoye, the case was transferred to the Anti-kidnapping Unit, Awkuzu who then went after other members of the gang.

“This led to the arrest of one other member of the gang called Ejeka Ufuo, ‘m’ 23 years, who was led to believe that the vehicle had been sold and he came out with the intent of collecting the proceeds.

“Efforts are ongoing to round up other members of the gang and recover their weapons.”

The police commissioner praised all officers engaged in the breakthrough, he continued, and he asked them to step up their efforts so that abduction is completely eradicated in Anambra State.