The Anambra State Police Command has rescued two persons who were kidnapped in Amorka Village, Uli, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that the victims were abducted on Sunday at 2 pm in Amorka Village, Uli, along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway, when armed men intercepted their vehicle, forced them into another car, and drove off.
The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, Superintendent of Police Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday.
Ikenga stated that the kidnap victims were rescued and the suspects arrested during a patrol by a joint security team comprising police operatives from the Uli Divisional Headquarters and the Uli Vigilante group.
He added that during the operation, the team recovered seven pump-action guns, seven live cartridges, three handcuffs, a cutlass, an axe, a dagger, and other incriminating items.
He said, “The Anambra State Police Command while felicitating with Ndi Anambra on the Easter celebrations, intensified security patrols to ensure that residents and visitors feel safe and to nip any untoward incidents in the bud during the holidays and beyond.
“During one of such patrols, the police rescued two kidnap victims, arrested a notorious cultist and kidnapper, and recovered seven pump-action guns, seven live cartridges, three handcuffs, a cutlass, an axe, a dagger, and other incriminating items. The summary is as follows:
“In the early hours of 18 April 2025, following an intense search operation, the joint security team comprising police special forces from the Uli Divisional Headquarters and Uli Vigilantes secured the safe return of two kidnapped victims in Ihiala.
“On Sunday, April 13, 2025, at 2 pm, armed men intercepted the victims’ vehicle in Amorka Village, Uli, along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway, forced the occupants into another vehicle, and sped off.
“The criminals abandoned the victims’ vehicle at the scene. The responding police team has since recovered the abandoned car and taken it to the police station for safekeeping.
“Meanwhile, the operation is ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.”
In another development, Ikenga said that on 17 April 2025 at about 1:30 p.m., police officers attached to Fegge Divisional Headquarters, while on patrol, intercepted a suspiciously parked bus along Port Harcourt Road, Upper Iweka, Onitsha.
He stated that during a search of the bus, officers discovered a bag of rice containing five pump-action guns, eight live cartridges, and two handcuffs, all carefully concealed.
“The arms and the bus were recovered, and investigations are ongoing to identify the culprits,” he said.
Furthermore, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad/Anti-Kidnapping Unit, acting on credible intelligence at about 1:27 p.m. on 17 April 2025, arrested one Israel Akachukwu, aged 25, and recovered two pump-action guns, two live cartridges, a cutlass, a yellow axe, and a dagger from his apartment on Ezeigwe Street, Nkpor, in Idemili North LGA.
The suspect reportedly confessed to being a member of the Vikings Confraternity and is cooperating with the operatives to apprehend other gang members.
In response, the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, encouraged the good people of Anambra State to remain law-abiding, vigilant, and security-conscious at all times.
He also urged citizens to emulate Christ’s humility and selfless lifestyle and called on Anambra residents to use the Easter season to pray for the peace and security of the state and the nation.
