The Anambra State Police Command said it had begun a manhunt for the yet-to-be-identified gunmen who abducted three persons at the Innoson Motorcycle Showroom along the Owerri Road, Nnewi in Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state.
Although the true identities of the victims have yet to be ascertained, TheNigerian Metro gathered the abduction occurred late on Tuesday.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday, said the Joint Security Forces were already on the offensive for the possible rescue of the three abducted victims.
He said, “The Anambra Joint Security Forces are on the offensive for possible rescue unhurt of the three abducted victims at the Innoson Motorcycle showroom, along the Owerri Road, Nnewi and to arrest the abductors. The incident occurred on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, by 6:45 pm.
“The police command is determined and is already working with information obtained from the scene for the ongoing rescue operations.
“The command also urged residents or anyone with useful information that will aid the investigation to come forward to the headquarters, Awka, or the nearest police station.
“You are also encouraged to call the Command Emergency number 112 or call 07039194332 for a prompt response. Further details shall be communicated, Please.”
In a related development, the Anambra State Police Command said it had rescued two female kidnap victims and arrested four suspects.
Ikenga, who disclosed the development, said police operatives attached to the Oba Police Divisional Headquarters in Idemili South Local Government Area of the state led the operation on Wednesday.
He said the victims were rescued and the suspects arrested after a ransom of N200,000 was paid for their release.
He said, “Police operatives attached to the Oba Divisional Police Headquarters in Idemili South Local Government Area, on November 27, 2024, by 11:54 am, arrested one notorious kidnapper and three other accomplices after a ransom of N200,000 was paid for the release of the victims in captivity.
“The operatives also rescued two female victims between the ages of 15 and 19 years in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, one Ifechukwu Ibezimako, (M) aged 19 years, of Aboji Village Oba and other three accomplices lured their victims through social media chats, by proposing friendship to them and holding them hostage until their relatives paid a certain amount to their gang before they are released.
“Also, the arrest of the suspect and his accomplice brought more revelations of their criminal activities in the area and a report of another female victim who had already paid ransom and was released months ago.”
According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, while admonishing the teeming youths to be careful of the people they meet on social media, directed the immediate transfer of the suspect to the anti-kidnapping/robbery squad for comprehensive investigations.
