Anambra Police Crack Down on Kidnappers, Arrest Two Suspects
By Chizoba Njaka
The Anambra State Police Command has announced the arrest of two men, Nonso Augustine Akpeh, 37, and Kingsley Akpeh, 44, in connection with the kidnapping of three Cameroonian nationals. The victims were abducted on November 10, 2025, in Onitsha, Anambra State.
In a statement issued to journalists in Awka, by the Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga reported that the Rapid Response Squad in Awkuzu seized a pump-action gun, a locally made double-barrel gun, and ten live cartridges during the arrests.
According to the statement the victims were kidnapped while on a business trip to purchase goods in Onitsha, as reported by their relatives on November 13. The kidnappers initially demanded fifty million naira but released the hostages only after receiving two million nine hundred thousand naira.
It also revealed that during the interrogation, the suspects identified Uchenna Nicholas Mmadu as an accomplice and cooperated with authorities, leading them to multiple locations in Anam Community where the victims were held captive. Kingsley Akpeh attempted to escape but was apprehended after being shot in the leg.
During the investigation, police interacted with local residents following the discovery of three unidentified female corpses in a nearby river, approximately five days prior, near the location where the victims were being held. The bodies are believed to be those of the kidnapped Cameroonian women, although formal identification has not been completed.
The investigation is ongoing, with police intensifying efforts to recover the victims’ bodies, capture the remaining suspect, and dismantle the criminal network behind the kidnapping.
Anambra State Police Command reaffirms its dedication to combating kidnapping and violent crime, and promised to provide additional information as the investigation unfolds.