From Uchenna Ezeadigwe
Awka
In what may be perceived as yet another giant feat, barely twenty four hours of contacting the Police over the murder of a Pentecostal Bishop, identified as Bishop Chinedu of End-Reconciliation Ministry Asaba, Delta State, the Anambra state Police operatives cracked down the driver who was said be allegedly the prime suspect and one other suspected accomplice
The Anambra State Commissioner for Police, Ikioye Orutugu PhD who paraded the suspects shortly after Press Briefing on the successes of the command in tackling mostly violent crimes in Anambra State said the police is poised towards combating crimes and having a zero tolerance in the state.
The event held at the state command headquarters, Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area, on 13th, 2026, according to the CP noted that two suspects arrested on May 13th while on a mission to sell off a Prado SUV Jeep stolen from a kidnapped and later murdered Pentecostal Bishop, identified as Bishop Chinedu of End-Reconciliation Ministry Asaba, Delta State.
Orutugu alleged that the victim’s driver serve as prime suspect in the kidnap operation,
confessional statement to the command, enabling them to recover General Purpose Machine Gun, GPMG, thousands of live ammunition, pump action guns, improvised explosive devices, hand grenades, including other weapons and items during the clearance operation.
He emphasized that 5 suspect were arrested and currently on Prison remand for several sexual offences, including sex with minors, child abuse and incest, warning that the command would not in anyway tolerate such act, including cases of child trafficking as arrests have been made, he also explained the arrest of a 22 year old Viking Confraternity executioner, Mr. Favour Izunna, who have confessed to killings while weapons were recovered from him.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Orutugu emphasized that efforts are also ongoing to arrest fleeing gang members of arrested suspects while urging members of the public, community leaders to always be vigilant and avail the police of timely information to help them do their job better.
Earlier, CP Orutugu, address Ndi Anambra and the general public on some significant operational achievements recently recorded by the Command in an intensified offensive against kidnapping, cultism, armed violence, child trafficking, sexual offences, and other criminal activities across the State, said “These successes were made possible through intelligence-led policing, operational resilience of officers and actionable information from Ndi Anambra and residents alike.”
In a major operational breakthrough, operatives of the Command successfully on 10th May 2026 rescued four kidnapped victims, including the Chief Medical Director of Crown Hospital, Nkpor, three days after the victims were abducted, following an intense tactical operation against the armed kidnapping gang.
The rescue followed a fierce gun battle between Police Operatives and the armed criminals in their den at Obosi. During the operation, the operatives neutralized two armed suspects and recovered one locally made pistol, one hundred live (100) GPMG ammunition, twenty-three expended ammunition, and three vehicles including one sliver RX 350 Lexus belonging to one of the rescued victims and others allegedly stolen, but used by the gang members for their criminal operations.
Regrettably, the Command recorded one fatal injury to a Police personnel during the exchange of gunfire. The officer paid the supreme sacrifice in active service to the nation. The Command honours his courage, gallantry, and dedication to duty, as well thanks the State Government on the promise to take care of the late Officer’s family and hospital expenses of the two other injured officers currently responding to medical treatment.
The Operatives have also cordoned off the building where the victims were rescued in view of the reaction of the people in the area who attempted to burn it down.
Also, in continuation of ongoing security offensives across criminal flashpoints, the Command carried out strategic clearance operations on 7th May 2026 in Owerre-Ezukala, Orumba South Local Government Area.
Recall that the camp was earlier destroyed by a Joint Security Team. Before the confession, one Nnamdi Nkemdilim Ogbonna, male, aged 37 years, allegedly one of the top commanders of the proscribed secessionists group, is in custody as well as intelligence received overtime points on how some escaped gang members were attempting to regroup.
The Offensive operation led to the recovery of one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) with about 2,000 rounds of live chain ammunition, Two fabricated rocket launchers with 25 propellers, Ten locally made Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), One locally made Beretta pistol, Two pump-action guns, Three hand grenades, Ten rounds of K2 live ammunition, one gas cylinder and one black Ecolac box.
The operatives also dislodged the armed criminals and sustained operational dominance in the area to prevent any regrouping.
In a similar development, Operatives of the Command acting on credible information of an arrested suspect, one Favour Izunna, a.k.a. Njoku, aged 22 years, allegedly a member of a dreaded cult group known as the Vikings Confraternity, led to the recovery of One pump-action gun, Seven (7) live cartridges, One locally made Beretta pistol and Five (5) rounds of 7.5mm live ammunition.
The suspect also confessed to to be one of the executioners of the dreaded cult groups and have led as well as participated in many killings, including victims identified as: Emeka Chukwuka (male) and Chinelo Onyeka (female), among others in Obosi and its environs.
Efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing gang members and dismantle the criminal network associated with the suspect.
Meanwhile, the Command has also secured the remand of five suspects at the Correctional Centre over various cases involving sexual offences and child abuse in Awka.
Among the suspects is a father alleged to have engaged in an unlawful sexual relationship with his biological daughter in Oko alongside other suspects linked to child abuse and related offences.
According to the CP, the Command views crimes against children and vulnerable persons as grave violations and assures the public that all cases involving sexual abuse, violence against children, and related offences will be thoroughly investigated and diligently prosecuted in accordance with the law.
In another significant breakthrough, the Command arrested a female suspect Chinazo Winners Anyasirikwu over alleged child trafficking activities in Aguata Local Government Area.
Following the operation, Police Operatives successfully rescued twelve children between the ages of 1- 20 years of seven girls and five boys believed to be victims of child stealing and trafficking.
The children have been placed under protective care while investigations continue to uncover the full network and possible collaborators connected to the criminal act.
The Command remains committed to protecting children and dismantling all forms of human trafficking and exploitation within the State.
To this end, Anambra State Police Command reiterates its commitment to sustaining ongoing operations against all forms of criminality and ensuring the safety and security of Ndi Anambra.
The police however urge residents to remain law-abiding, vigilant, and continue to support security agencies with credible and timely information.
