Police Arrests Couple Over Alleged Attempt To Kidnap 

By Joseph Sunday 

The Nigeria Police Force, Anambra State Command has arrested a couple over alleged attempt to kidnap some people in the far away eastern State of Anambra. 

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The Police Public Relations Officer in the Anambra State Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga made the information about the arrest public through the press release he signed and sent to Treasure Newspaper.

According to the press release, SP Ikenga said, “the Anambra State Police Command is aware and already investigating a related recent trending voice note of a security report on how a victim escaped abduction by an alleged Security Operative.

Given reports of text messages and voice notes received by unsuspecting members of the public on threats of abduction and kidnap, the Joint Security Force comprising of the Police and Anambra Vigilante Group acting on technology-driven information arrested a couple, named Mr Okoye Kingsley aged 36 years old and one Mrs Chidinma Okoye aged 27 years old in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State and recovered phones and SIM cards.

The Police have however established upon interrogating the couple that they specialises in sending threatening messages to people and demanding ransom or they are abducted or killed. 

During the interrogations, the couple confessed to the crime and admitted to destroying some of the SIM cards which they had earlier used to commit the crimes.

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Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam has directed the immediate transfer of the case to the Anti-Kidnapping/Robbery Squad of the Command for comprehensive investigations while the accused persons shall be charged to court on conclusion of the investigations.

SP Ikenga assured members of the public to know that the Anambra Police Command did not take the information for granted as it has swings into action by activating all the necessary intelligence tools to unmask the suspects and nip the issue in the bid to avoid re-occurrence.

In another development, the Anambra State Police Command has sustained onslaught to foil plans of criminal elements in the State, thereby demobilizing some secessionist group members, rescue victims, recovers firearm, vehicles and other incriminating items. 

Police Operatives from the Operations Department of the Command and attached to a VIP in the State on 29/11/2024 by 8:30 pm along Agulu/Nnobi road, demobilized one of the criminal elements in the State and recovered one pump action gun, five live cartridges, five machetes, two SUV jeeps and two pairs of desert shoe.

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The Operatives resisted the armed men operating in a grey-coloured Lexus ES 330 with Plate Nos: ACA 551 MA and an ash-coloured Toyota Highlander with plate number: SMK 544, who attacked their convoy unprovoked. During the gun duel, the swift response by the Joint Security Team comprising the Police and AVG Operatives led by the Divisional Police Officer Neni, Anaocha Local Government Area, made the armed men abandon their vehicle and fled the scene with bullet wounds, through a nearby bush.

Meanwhile, the Operatives have sustained operations in the area aimed at arresting the fleeing members. Members of the public and residents of the area have also been called upon to assist the Command with information in this regard. 

In another development, the Joint Security Team comprising Police operatives attached to the Dunukofia Division and AVG members responded to a distress call along Ukwulu Road, rescued the abducted victims and recovered their vehicle.

Preliminary information shows that the armed men abducted the victims on the 27th of November, 2024 by 7:00 am along Ugwunwasike – Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of the State. The culprits shot the abductees when they observed that they were being trailed by the security operatives, abandoned them in the vehicle and fled the scene.

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Meanwhile, the Joint Security Team have secured the victims and rushed them to the hospital for medical attention.

However, while one of them was responding to treatment, the other was sadly confirmed dead by the doctors on duty. The vehicle has also been recovered.

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