Police Foil Kidnap Attempts, Arrest Notorious Separatist, Rescue Three Victims in Anambra

Anambra Police rescue kidnap victims, arrest separatist gang leader in major statewide operations.

Recovered weapons, freed hostages, and active crackdowns signal renewed push for public safety.

The Anambra State Police Command has successfully rescued three kidnap victims and arrested a key figure linked to a banned separatist group during separate operations across the state.

According to a statement on Tuesday by the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the operations were carried out in the early hours of July 15, 2025, by teams drawn from the Rapid Response Squad and divisional police units in collaboration with local vigilantes.

One of the key breakthroughs, Ikenga revealed, was the arrest of 31-year-old Gospel Ozioma Nneto, popularly known as “OZ,” identified as a leader of a proscribed armed separatist group. He was arrested in possession of a pump-action rifle and a dagger.

“The suspect is a well-known terrorist, kidnapper, and armed robber. He confessed to being the group’s photographer and operated from a camp known as ‘Mother Valley’ located in the Orsumohu-Orsu axis,” Ikenga said.

The suspect is now undergoing further interrogation as detectives work to unravel the full extent of his criminal network.

In a separate operation, police divisions in Nimo and Nteje, working closely with vigilante operatives, rescued three kidnap victims from different hideouts. Two of the rescued were women, freed from forested areas between Oraukwu and Nimo communities following credible intelligence.

The rescued victims are receiving medical care and psychological support before being reunited with their families.

Another rescue mission on July 14 saw officers from the Nteje Division respond to an attempted attack by two armed men. A brief shootout followed, resulting in the death of the suspects. Security personnel recovered a pump-action rifle, a dagger, and other incriminating items from the scene.

Efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend other members of the fleeing gangs linked to these crimes.

Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, commended the efforts of the security teams and reiterated the command’s commitment to making Anambra safe.

“These successful operations reflect our ongoing determination to flush out criminal elements and secure the lives and property of residents,” Ikenga stated.