By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two suspected kidnappers and the recovery of arms and motorcycles during a gun battle in Amorka, Uli, in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.
The arrest, made on Saturday, April 19, 2025, was part of the ongoing Operation Udo Ga-Achแป Zero Kidnapping, which aims to rid the state of kidnapping and violent criminal elements and restore total peace to troubled areas.
According to a statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the operation was executed by a joint security team comprising police operatives attached to the Uli Police Station and local vigilante members.
He said the security team, while on routine patrol along the UliโAmorka axis of the OnitshaโOwerri Road, encountered armed hoodlums riding on motorcycles and engaged them in a fierce gun duel. In the heat of the confrontation, two of the suspects โ Chigozie Johnson and Umuerima Oguta, both male and between the ages of 30 and 32 โ were arrested.
One automatic pump-action rifle and two motorcycles were recovered from the suspects at the scene, while a search of the surrounding bush revealed bloodstains, indicating that other members of the gang may have escaped with gunshot wounds.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of a criminal gang that specializes in kidnapping and other violent crimes, and admitted they were on an evil mission when the security operatives intercepted them.
In light of this development, the Police Command has issued an advisory to all proprietors of hospitals and health centers across the state โ both public and private โ to admit but promptly report any person brought in with bullet wounds or suspicious injuries to the nearest police station. This, the Command noted, is a crucial step in apprehending the fleeing criminals and sustaining the fight against crime in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, through the PPRO, reiterated the Commandโs unwavering resolve to maintain security dominance in Anambra through sustained patrols and targeted operations. He called on members of the public to remain vigilant, law-abiding, and supportive of security efforts in their communities.
The PPRO operation, which is still ongoing, is part of a broader strategy by the Anambra State Police Command to enforce peace and ensure the safety of all residents and visitors in the state, especially in areas previously prone to security threats.
