Anambra Police Bust Kidnappers' Den, Rescue Victims

The Anambra State Police Command, in collaboration with military and local vigilante groups, has successfully raided a notorious kidnappers' den located in Umuduru, Ihiala Local Government Area, rescuing a kidnapped victim without injury.

This operation was announced by the command's spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement on Tuesday. Ikenga revealed that the breakthrough came after the arrest of a suspect (name withheld) several weeks ago, who later confessed to being part of a notorious kidnap gang that has been terrorizing the region, particularly in Ihiala.

The statement from Ikenga reads: “In an ongoing operation in Ihiala, a joint team of police, military, and AVG operatives dismantled a criminal hideout at Umuduru, Ihiala, successfully rescuing a kidnapped victim without harm. This success follows the recent arrest of a suspect who confessed to being a member of a notorious kidnapping gang active in the state, especially in the Ihiala area.”

The rescued victim has since been debriefed and reunited with their family, while operations to apprehend other members of the gang continue. The police assured that further updates on the situation would be communicated in due course.

This development comes amid rising tensions in the state, as members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) threatened to shut down hospitals if their colleague, Dr. Steven Ezeh, kidnapped on August 15, is not released. The NMA, in a communique signed by Dr. Princeston Okam and Dr. Obiaeli Ifeanyi, expressed their frustration over the deteriorating security situation and issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the state government to secure Dr. Ezeh's release. The doctors have vowed to down tools if their demand is not met, emphasizing their growing concern over the spate of kidnappings targeting professionals in the state.