The Anambra Police Command has arrested a deserter soldier and four others for suspected armed robbery and kidnapping.
The spokesman for the state police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement on Thursday, stressed that the five-man gang is said to be members of a kidnapping syndicate terrorising members of the public in the state.
Ikenga added that the suspects, on Wednesday, following a report that a victim was abducted on his farmland at Isiagu, Awka, and later released after ransom was paid.
He said police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu stormed the hideout of the suspects at Notoko, Awka and arrested the suspects.
The statement read in part, “The Anambra State Police Command, in a swift operation on August 27, 2025, arrested five suspected members of a notorious armed robbery and kidnapping syndicate following a report that a victim was abducted on his farmland at Isiagu, Awka, and later released after ransom was paid.
“Acting on credible intelligence, police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu stormed the hideout of the suspects at Notoko, Awka, which led to the arrest of the following persons: Michael Nwobodo ‘M’ 30 yrs, Eze Friday ‘M’ 29 yrs, Uche Okolo ‘M’ 23 years, Chinedu Gilbert ‘M’ 29 yrs and Dominic Oraz ‘M’ 38 yrs (a confessed deserter of the Nigerian Army).
“Exhibits recovered from the suspects include: six automatic pump-action guns, 63 rounds of live cartridges, one microscope, five machetes, one military cap, two police teargas canisters, handcuffs, a robber’s rocket launcher, criminal charms, three Motorola walkie-talkies, one jackknife, one powerbank and a cash sum of N26,000.
“During interrogation, one of the suspects, Dominic Oraz, confessed to having deserted the Nigerian Army in November 2024.
“Meanwhile, necessary enquiries have commenced with the authority to guide the police action and prosecution of other suspects.
“The Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, while commending the operatives for their gallantry, urged residents to remain law-abiding and vigilant and to continue to report suspicious activities to the police for prompt action. He also assured Ndi Anambra of the command’s unwavering commitment to combating violent crimes.”
PUNCH.
