The Anambra police says it has rescued three kidnap victims in a compound in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.
The victims, all male, were chained to pillars in a building in the compound, and were said to have been held incommunicado for weeks.
Police also arrested two men, said to be members of a criminal gang, while other members of the gang are at large.
Spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who disclosed this, said that the raid on the compound followed a recent arrest of the gang leader known as Totoritor, who confessed to having kidnapped victims in his compound.
The statement reads “On 14/07/2023 at about 1600hrs (4P.M), police operatives from Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu acting on credible information, stormed the compound of one Onyeka Aduba, alias Totoritor, at Umuohi Village, Okija and rescued three abducted citizens chained to building pillars by insurgents.
“Two suspects, namely, Okika Chukwujekwu ‘M’ aged 31 years, Slyvester Okorie Ikwuanusi ‘M’ aged 55 years were arrested for interrogation.
“The feat followed the confession made by the notorious gang leader, popularly known as ‘Totoritor’ who was arrested earlier and had been in police custody. ”He said efforts were ongoing to arrest the other fleeing members of the gang.
He also quoted the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Aderemi Adeoye, as urging the people of Anambra State to continue to volunteer information that can help in the fight against criminals.
He urged them to disregard propaganda against the police, reiterating their commitment to riding the state of crime.