Anambra Police Rescue Three Kidnap Victims, Arrest Separatist Leader, Recover Arms
On July 15, 2025, the Anambra State Police Command, under Commissioner of Police Ikioye Orutugu, achieved significant breakthroughs in combating crime, rescuing three kidnap victims and arresting a notorious member of a proscribed armed separatist group in coordinated operations across the state.
The operations, conducted with local vigilante groups, also led to the recovery of a pump-action gun, a dagger, and other incriminating items.
Police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga stated: “The Anambra State Police Command, under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, continues to record major operational breakthroughs in its relentless efforts to rid the state of criminal elements. In a series of coordinated operations across different parts of the state, police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, in the early hours of today (Tuesday), July 15, 2025, arrested one Gospel Ozioma Nneto, male, aged 31, aka ‘OZ,’ a notorious leader of a proscribed armed separatist group. In another operation, the Divisional Police Officers of Nimo and Nteje, in collaboration with local vigilante operatives, successfully rescued three kidnapped victims held by suspected armed hoodlums. Items recovered from the operations include: One pump-action gun and one dagger.”
The arrested suspect, Gospel Ozioma Nneto, known as “OZ,” is a confirmed member of the separatist group, serving as their photographer and operating from the “Mother Valley” camp in the Orsumohu-Orsu axis. Ikenga added: “The arrested suspect is a known terrorist, kidnapper, and armed robber, and a confirmed member of the proscribed separatist group. During interrogation, he confessed to being a photographer for the group, operating from a camp known as ‘Mother Valley,’ located in the Orsumohu-Orsu axis.
He is currently undergoing further interrogation as discreet investigations continue to uncover his criminal network.”
In a separate operation, a joint security team from Nimo Division and local vigilantes searched forested areas between Oraukwu and Nimo on the evening of July 15, 2025, rescuing two female kidnap victims. These victims are set to reunite with their families after medical and psychological evaluations. On July 14, 2025, Nteje Division operatives engaged two armed suspects in a gun duel, neutralizing them and recovering a pump-action gun, a dagger, and other items.
Ikenga emphasized: “The command remains resolute in its mission to ensure the safety and security of all residents and visitors to Anambra State.” Efforts are ongoing to apprehend fleeing members of these criminal syndicates, with intensified patrols and intelligence operations to maintain security across Anambra.
