Law enforcement apprehends pair of alleged abduction suspects in Anambra

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The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspected kidnappers allegedly linked to multiple abductions across the state, including the kidnapping of a victim at Divine Heritage Lodge, Ukwulu, Dunukofia Local Government Area, where ₦15m was paid as ransom.

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The prime suspect was arrested on July 27 following credible intelligence and investigations by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu.

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The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Awka on Saturday.

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Ikenga said the second suspect was arrested at the gang’s base following information obtained from the first suspect.

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He described the arrests as a significant breakthrough in the command’s sustained operations against kidnapping and other violent crimes.

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He said, “In the early hours of July 27, following credible intelligence and painstaking investigations, Anambra police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, carried out a coordinated operation and arrested one Dauda Mohamed, aged 38, a suspected member of a notorious kidnapping syndicate in Kogi State.

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“During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to participating in several kidnapping operations in Anambra State.

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“The suspect identified one Umar Ali, also known as ‘Barjini’, aged 50, as the leader of the gang responsible for coordinating logistics and supplying operational weapons to the criminal network.

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“He also mentioned other members of the syndicate identified as Usman and Gongola, who are currently at large.

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“The investigation is directly linked to the kidnapping of a victim which occurred on June 26, 2026, at Divine Heritage Lodge, Ukwulu, Dunukofia Local Government Area.

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“In that incident, armed hoodlums emerged from an uncompleted building behind the lodge, fired several gunshots, abducted the victim into a nearby bush, and later demanded a ransom of ₦30m.

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“After negotiations, the sum of ₦15m was paid before the victim regained freedom after spending four days in captivity.”

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According to Ikenga, preliminary investigations revealed that the gang allegedly relocated from armed bandit enclaves in the North-West and established criminal operations in parts of the South-East.

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He added that investigations indicated that the syndicate used an AK-47 rifle, allegedly supplied by the gang leader, to carry out kidnapping and armed robbery operations.

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“Acting swiftly on information obtained during the interrogation, operatives extended the operation to Ugwuoba Gariki, Enugu State, where they successfully arrested Umar Ali, also known as ‘Barjini’.

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“Let me assure Ndi Anambra and indeed all residents of Anambra that the command remains resolute in denying criminals any safe haven within the state.

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“We shall continue to sustain proactive operations, strengthen intelligence gathering, and work collaboratively with other security agencies to dismantle criminal networks wherever they may be.

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“We also wish to reiterate the importance of public support. Security is a shared responsibility, and we urge residents to continue providing timely, credible, and actionable information that will assist the police in preventing crime and bringing offenders to justice.

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“As investigations continue, further updates will be communicated to the public in due course,” he added.

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