Police arrest 131 crime suspects, rescue kidnap victims

The police in Ebonyi State, Nigeria’s South-east, say they have arrested 131 crime suspects in the past six weeks in the state.

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The Commissioner of Police in the state, Adaku Uche-Anya, disclosed this on Tuesday during a briefing at the state police headquarters in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Mrs Uche-Anya said the police also rescued kidnap victims, recovered firearms, and stolen vehicles within the period which was between July and mid-August 2025.

The police chief said the achievements were through proactive policing, intelligence-led operations, and community engagement.

She said of the 131 arrested crime suspects, 120 were males while 11 others were females.

According to her, the suspects were arrested for various offences including kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, and cult-related crimes.

Mrs Uche-Anya said that out of this number, 52 suspects have been charged to court, while others were still under investigation.

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The police commissioner further revealed that six vehicles, 15 assorted firearms, and 50 rounds of ammunition were recovered within the period.

Rescue of kidnap victims

Mrs Uche-Anya said, in one of the separate operations on 14 August, police operatives rescued two kidnapped students unhurt from an uncompleted building in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state.

She said three suspects – James Nweke, Oliver Nwali, and Nwojiji Onyebuchi – were arrested at the scene.

The police commissioner said, in another operation, police operatives prevented the ongoing Ihie-Ezza Ekembe crisis from escalating.

She said a suspect, Agboti Kingsley, allegedly hired as a mercenary to instigate violence, was arrested by the operatives.

Murder

Mrs Uche-Amya further revealed that operatives from the Special Weapons and Tactics have arrested three suspects in connection with the killing of a resident, Udu Nnachi, during the Ekoli Edda unrest on 9 July.

She identified the arrested suspects as Amarachi Ude, Idika Ama Okoro, and Sunday Ama Olughu.

The commissioner said the suspects would be arraigned upon the conclusion of the investigation.

Community engagement

Mrs Uche-Anya noted that the agrarian nature of Ebonyi makes land and boundary disputes a recurring challenge during farming seasons.

The commissioner said, to forestall violence, the police in the state have deployed early-warning systems and embraced dialogue with leaders in flashpoint communities.

“Through proactive strategies, we are recording encouraging results while remaining vigilant in ensuring the safety of our people,” she said.

The police chief hailed residents of the state for their support and urged them to continue providing timely information to the police to aid in crime fighting.

“The Command remains resolute in its mandate to protect lives and property, and to sustain peace and security across the state,” she assured.

Increased attacks

Like other states in Nigeria’s South-east, security has deteriorated in Ebonyi State with frequent attacks by armed persons.

Kidnappers, cultists and even armed robbers are believed to be partly responsible for the growing insecurity in the region.

Also, separatist groups like the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have been linked to some deadly attacks in the region.

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The IPOB-linked attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities.

But the group has repeatedly denied its involvement in the attacks.

Hundreds of people have been killed or abducted, and several others injured in some of such attacks in the region.

IPOB is a group leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra, which it wants to be carved out from the South-east and some parts of South-south Nigeria.