POLICE ARREST TWO FOR CONSPIRACY, STAGED KIDNAPPING IN ANAMBRA

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By ‘Sefiu Ajape

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects for allegedly staging a kidnapping in collaboration with the victim’s boyfriend to extort money from her parents.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a press statement on Saturday, noting that the arrest followed a breakthrough in several cases investigated over the past two weeks.

According to him, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, carried out the arrest on March 14 and recovered several items, including cash, from the suspects.

“The Anambra State Police Command has recorded significant breakthroughs in several reported cases under investigation within the last two weeks.

“Among the feats recorded, the notable ones include the following: The operatives of the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu on March 14, 2026, uncovered a case of conspiracy and staged kidnapping with the arrest of two suspects, namely, Chinedu Chineye Nwobi ‘M,’ aged 25 years, and Okwudili Nweke ‘M,’ aged 25 years, respectively.

“The victim, Miss Mmesoma Ifediora, aged 18 years, was rescued unharmed in a forest popularly known as ‘Malaysia Forest’ located at Iruayika, Awkuzu.

“Upon interrogation, the rescued victim confessed that the kidnapping was staged in collaboration with her boyfriend, Obiora Okoye, with the intent to extort the sum of ₦3 million from her parents.

“She further revealed that they had both taken an oath of secrecy and had been moving from one location to another over a period of about two months to sustain the deception.

“However, Obiora, the boyfriend of the victim, also known as ‘Stainless,’ fled the scene upon sighting the police and is currently at large.

“To this end, the victim admitted that her parents had already paid the sum of ₦240,000 into her Opay account as part of the ransom demand.”

Ikenga added that items recovered include 10 SIM cards from different networks, an MTN 4G WiFi device, two female pants, a native “juju” calabash, a Duos mobile phone, a necklace, a white bandage used to tie the victim’s hands and eyes, and computer cables.

In a related development, the police said operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, on March 18, 2026, arrested another suspect, Chukwuebuka Eze ‘M’, aged 24, who has a tattoo on his chest reading, ‘No weapon fashioned against me shall prosper.’

Ikenga said the suspect, identified as a gang leader, was responsible for a kidnapping incident in Obosi, where victims were released after a ransom of ₦150,000 was paid, while their valuables were also taken.

“Items recovered at the point of his arrest include one locally-made double-barrel shotgun, five live cartridges, and one Redmi mobile phone belonging to one of the victims.

“The suspect also confessed to the crime and other related criminal activities within the state. He mentioned other gang members who are currently at large, as the Police investigative team is currently working with the information for possible arrest.

“These successes are the result of intensified intelligence-led operations, strategic deployment of personnel, and improved collaboration with other security agencies and members of the public.

“All suspects shall be charged to court on conclusion of the investigation,” Ikenga added.