The Anambra State Police Command has launched an intensive manhunt for the gunmen who kidnapped at least three people at different locations in the state. Anambra State police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, stated that the operation includes rescuing the victims.
At least three individuals were feared to be kidnapped at different locations in the state on Saturday. According to videos circulating on social media, one abduction occurred at Ifite-Amansea-Awka Road in Awka North Local Government Area on Saturday afternoon, while the other occurred along the Agulu-Oraukwu Road in Anaocha LG on Saturday evening.
In the video, two unidentified occupants of a Sports Utility Vehicle were kidnapped by gunmen at the Ifite-Amansea-Awka location, close to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s second gate.
Another unidentified person was taken away by a different group of gunmen along the Agulu-Oraukwu Road. The videos showed masked gunmen ordering the victims out of their vehicles and into their waiting vehicles. It was reported that the gunmen shot into the air as they made away with the victims.
Responding to the development, SP Tochukwu Ikenga mentioned in a statement on Sunday that after studying the videos, the police responding team recovered the victims’ vehicles and placed joint security measures/operational positioning to prevent similar incidents in the state.
Ikenga stated that manhunt and rescue operations are ongoing to rescue the victims and arrest the assailants as directed by the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam.
The statement further mentioned that efforts are ongoing to arrest the assailants and rescue the victims of the abduction incidents. The police responding team recovered the abandoned victim’s vehicle, and joint security measures and personnel positioning are already in place to prevent similar incidents in the state. The police command is committed to hunting down the assailants and will communicate any further developments.
