Anambra Police Arrest Suspected IPOB Member, Recover Guns in Ogbaru Criminal Raid

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of a kidnap, robbery, and car-snatching syndicate in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area. The 43-year-old suspect is also alleged to be a member of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the command’s spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, said in a statement on Thursday.

According to Mr. Ikenga, police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad in Awkuzu carried out the arrest in the early hours of Wednesday. During the operation, officers recovered an AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun, two AK-47 magazines, 88 rounds of ammunition, two face masks, and two gloves.

The arrest followed the confession of another gang member already in police custody, who revealed that firearms were handed over to the newly arrested suspect for safekeeping after each kidnapping operation. The suspect also admitted receiving portions of the ransom collected from kidnapped victims.

Mr. Ikenga added that the suspect is now cooperating with authorities to help apprehend other fleeing members of the gang and recover additional weapons.