Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a kidnap and armed robbery syndicate allegedly linked to a proscribed secessionist group.
The suspect, 43-year-old Kalu Okafor, was apprehended at Okpoko in Ogbaru Local Government Area in the early hours of Wednesday.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement, said Okafor’s arrest is part of ongoing investigations into a case of conspiracy, kidnapping, armed robbery, and car snatching connected to the group’s activities.
Ikenga disclosed that operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle, one pump-action gun, two AK-47 magazines, 88 rounds of ammunition, two face masks, and two pairs of hand gloves during the operation.
He added that the arrest followed the confession of a previously arrested gang member, Chukwudi Nwakpa, who revealed that the gang routinely handed their firearms to Okafor for safekeeping after each kidnapping operation. According to him, Okafor also admitted receiving a share of the proceeds from ransoms collected from kidnapped victims.
The police spokesperson said the suspect is currently assisting investigators with information aimed at apprehending other fleeing members of the syndicate and recovering additional weapons.
He assured that further developments would be communicated in due course.
