Deserter Soldier, Four Others Nabbed For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping ln Anambra

The Anambra State Police Command has apprehended five alleged members of a notorious armed robbery and kidnapping gang terrorising parts of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement released in Awka on Thursday, confirming that the successful operation took place on August 27, 2025.

According to Ikenga, the arrest followed a report of a farmer who was abducted on his farmland at Isiagu, Awka, and later regained freedom after his family paid a ransom.

“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, stormed the suspects’ hideout at Notoko, Awka, which led to the arrest of the following persons: Michael Nwobodo, male, 30 years; Eze Friday, male, 29 years; Uche Okolo, male, 23 years; Chinedu Gilbert, male, 29 years; and Dominic Oraz, male, 38 years, who confessed to being a deserter from the Nigerian Army.

Items recovered from the suspects include six automatic pump-action guns, 63 live cartridges, one microscope, five machetes, a military cap, two police teargas canisters, a pair of handcuffs, a rocket launcher, criminal charms, three Motorola walkie-talkies, a jack knife, one power bank, and a cash sum of ₦26,000,” the PPRO stated.

He added that during interrogation, one of the suspects, Dominic Oraz, admitted to deserting the Nigerian Army in November 2024. “Necessary enquiries have commenced with the relevant military authority to guide police action and ensure the prosecution of other suspects,” Ikenga said.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu fwc MNIPS PhD, praised the operatives for their bravery and urged residents to remain law-abiding, security-conscious, and to promptly report suspicious movements or activities to the police.

He further assured the people of Anambra of the Command’s sustained commitment to tackling violent crimes and ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state.