Anambra Police Record Major Breakthroughs Against Kidnapping, Cultism, Child Trafficking
By Chizoba Njaka
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, has announced significant breakthroughs in the ongoing fight against kidnapping, cultism, child trafficking, and other violent crimes across the state.
Speaking during a press briefing in Awka, the Commissioner disclosed that operatives of the command successfully rescued four kidnapped victims and recovered a cache of dangerous weapons from various criminal hideouts during separate operations.
According to him, police operatives on Monday, May 10, 2026, raided a kidnappers’ hideout in Obosi and rescued four abducted persons, including the Chief Medical Director of Crown Hospital, following an intense gun duel with the suspects. Two armed suspects were neutralized during the operation.
Items recovered from the scene included a locally fabricated pistol, 100 rounds of General Purpose Machine Gun ammunition, 23 expended rounds, and three vehicles, among them a silver Lexus RX 350 belonging to one of the rescued victims.
The Commissioner also disclosed that one police officer lost his life during the operation, while two others sustained injuries. He commended the Anambra State Government for its support to the family of the deceased officer and for assisting with the medical treatment of the injured personnel. He further noted that security operatives later secured the rescue location after some residents allegedly attempted to set the building ablaze.
CP Orutugu recalled that on May 7, police operatives carried out a clearance operation in Owerre-Ezukala, where armed criminals were dislodged from a previously identified secessionist camp.
Weapons recovered during the raid included a General Purpose Machine Gun with 2,000 rounds of ammunition, two locally fabricated rocket launchers with 25 propellers, 10 improvised explosive devices, a Beretta pistol, two pump-action guns, three grenades, 10 rounds of K2 ammunition, a gas cylinder, and a black Ecolac box. The police also arrested a 37-year-old suspect, Nnamdi Nkemdilim Ogbonna, alleged to be a senior commander of a proscribed secessionist group. He remains in police custody as investigations continue.
In a separate operation, police arrested 22-year-old Favour Izunna, also known as “Njoku,” who was identified as a member of the Vikings Confraternity. The suspect reportedly led operatives to a weapons cache containing a pump-action gun, seven cartridges, a Beretta pistol, and five rounds of 7.5mm ammunition. Police further stated that the suspect confessed to involvement in multiple killings in Obosi, including the deaths of Emeka Chukwuka and Chinelo Onyeka, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang.
The Command further disclosed that five suspects were remanded over alleged sexual offences and child abuse cases in Awka, including a father accused of abusing his daughter in Oko. Similarly, police operatives arrested Chinazo Winners Anyasirikwu in Aguata over alleged child trafficking activities. The arrest led to the rescue of 12 children, aged between one and 20 years, comprising seven girls and five boys, who are currently receiving protective care.
CP Orutugu attributed the successes recorded by the command to intelligence-driven policing, the resilience of officers, and credible information provided by members of the public.
He assured residents that the command would sustain ongoing operations against criminal elements across the state.
“Anambra will remain hostile to criminals,” he stated while urging residents to remain vigilant and continue providing useful information to security agencies.