Police: Over 300 suspects arrested, three Bauchi stolen children rescued in Anambra

The Anambra police command says its operatives arrested more than 300 suspects and rescued 14 kidnapped victims, including three children stolen from Bauchi state in 2024.

Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesperson in Anambra, who spoke during a press briefing on Monday, said the command also secured 30 convictions within the period.

“Last year under review witnessed successful local government elections in the state. Also, in the drive to fight all forms of criminalities, the command embarked on security advocacy visits to local government headquarters and established a community policing committee to foster community engagement,” Ikenga said.

Ikenga added that the children stolen from Bauchi were sold to another person in Anambra.

He said the suspects, including the foster mother of the stolen children, were arrested on Monday after they confessed to the crime.

The police spokesperson said more than 43 unexploded improvised devices and over 100 brands of arms were recovered, including AK-47s, pump-action guns, and locally made pistols.

“There were destructions of so many criminal camps, but the most notable is that of Nimo, Njikoka LGA, which led to the recovery of 19 unexploded devices,” he added.

“There was the arrest of a notorious and wanted kidnapper, named Pablo, who has been terrorising Ihiala, Anambra state and other areas in Enugu and Delta states.

“Arrest of two notorious cultists in Awka that led to the recovery of one pump-action gun, four live cartridges, a cutlass, criminal charms, and substances suspected to be hard drugs.”

Ikenga said the command also recovered about 40 stolen vehicles and more than 2,937 rounds of ammunition of various types.