Easter Security Sweep: Anambra Police Foil Kidnap Plot, Recover Arms and Arrest Cultist

 

In a robust show of force and strategic coordination, the Anambra State Police Command has rescued two individuals abducted along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway and recovered a significant cache of weapons from criminal elements operating in different parts of the state.

The incident, which initially sparked concern among residents of Amorka Village, Uli in Ihiala Local Government Area, occurred on Sunday, April 13, 2025, around 2 p.m. According to authorities, armed assailants intercepted a vehicle traveling through the area and forcefully transferred its occupants into another car before fleeing the scene. The victims’ vehicle was later recovered by responding officers.

A breakthrough in the case came just days later when a joint patrol unit—comprising operatives from the Uli Divisional Police Headquarters and members of the local vigilante group—launched an intensive manhunt. Their efforts paid off in the early hours of April 18, when the team successfully rescued the kidnapped victims and apprehended at least one suspect connected to both cult and kidnapping activities.

Superintendent of Police Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesperson for the command, confirmed the rescue operation and arrest in a press release issued on Saturday. According to him, the rescue and arrests were part of heightened security patrols designed to ensure the safety of Anambra residents and visitors during the Easter festivities.

"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,” Ikenga said.

As part of the same operation, law enforcement recovered an alarming collection of arms and weapons, including seven pump-action shotguns, seven live cartridges, three handcuffs, a cutlass, a dagger, an axe, and other incriminating items believed to be used for illicit activities.

Meanwhile, in a separate but equally significant development, police officers attached to the Fegge Divisional Headquarters made another discovery during routine patrols. On April 17, 2025, at approximately 1:30 p.m., the officers intercepted a suspiciously parked bus along Port Harcourt Road, Upper Iweka, Onitsha. Upon conducting a thorough search, they uncovered a bag of rice with five pump-action guns, eight live cartridges, and two handcuffs cleverly hidden within it.

The vehicle and all discovered items were taken into custody as investigations continue to uncover the identities of those involved.

On the same day, at around 1:27 p.m., operatives from the Rapid Response Squad and Anti-Kidnapping Unit, acting on credible intelligence, raided a residence on Ezeigwe Street, Nkpor in Idemili North Local Government Area. There, they arrested 25-year-old Israel Akachukwu, seizing two more pump-action guns, additional ammunition, a cutlass, a yellow axe, and a dagger.

The suspect reportedly confessed to being a member of the Vikings Confraternity and is currently cooperating with police to track down other members of the gang.

Commissioner of Police Ikioye Orutugu, reacting to the recent string of successful operations, lauded the efforts of the security operatives and called on Anambra residents to maintain vigilance and report any suspicious activities.

“Our goal is to create a secure environment for all. We encourage the good people of Anambra to stay law-abiding, security-conscious, and to pray for the peace and unity of our state and nation, especially during this Easter season,” Commissioner Orutugu stated.

The recent operations mark a significant blow to the activities of criminal networks in the state, as the command continues to reinforce its presence and capabilities in curbing crimes ranging from kidnapping to cultism and arms trafficking.

As investigations deepen and more arrests are anticipated, the police have assured the public that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure lasting peace and safety across Anambra.