Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects – Nonso Augustine Akpeh and Kingsley Akpeh – for their alleged involvement in the kidnap of three female Cameroonians who are feared killed, as they have yet to be found.
The Cameroonians were abducted on Monday, November 10, in Onitsha.
The operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, who arrested the suspects, also recovered a pump-action gun, a locally-fabricated double-barrel gun
and 10 live cartridges.
In a statement on Thursday, November 27, the Command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said that information received from a relative of the victims on Thursday, November 13, revealed that the victims were kidnapped while on a business trip to purchase goods in Onitsha.
“Furthermore, it was revealed that the abductors refused to release the victims after N2.9 million was paid from the initial demand of N50 million by the armed criminals,” the PPRO said.
He stated that during the interrogation of the suspects, they mentioned one Uchenna Nicholas Mmadu as an accomplice.
SP Ikenga said that the suspects subsequently led police operatives to various bush locations in Anam Community where the victims had been held, while second suspect, Akpeh, attempted to escape but was shot in the leg and re-arrested.
“Also, during the police search of the victims in the bush, they interacted with the people in the area as unpleasant information indicates that three unidentified female corpses were discovered floating in a nearby river approximately five days ago, within the vicinity where the victims were reportedly kept.
“The bodies are strongly suspected to be those of the kidnapped victims.
“To this end, investigation is still in progress as the operatives have intensified efforts to locate and recover the victims’ bodies, arrest the fleeing suspect, and uncover the full extent of the criminal network.
“Anambra State Police Command remains resolute in combating kidnapping and all forms of violent crimes in the state.
“Further developments will be communicated in due course,” Ikenga added.
