The Anambra State Police Command has apprehended a man believed to be part of a syndicate involved in kidnapping, armed robbery, and car snatching in the Okpoko area of Ogbaru Local Government Area.
The command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Thursday.
Mr Ikenga said the 43-year-old suspect is also believed to be associated with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.
“Police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu arrested another criminal gang member, male, 43 at Okpoko, Ogbaru local government in the early hours of Wednesday.
“During the operation, the operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle, one pump-action gun, two AK-47 magazines, 88 rounds of ammunition, two face masks, and two hand gloves,” he said.
He explained that the breakthrough followed information obtained from another arrested gang member already in police custody.
According to the spokesman, the detained suspect had narrated how the group routinely handed their weapons to the first suspect for safekeeping after each kidnapping operation. He added that the same suspect admitted receiving a share of ransom payments collected from victims.
Mr Ikenga said the arrested man is cooperating with investigators in efforts to track down other fleeing members of the syndicate and to possibly recover more weapons.
