Anambra Killings: Two Arrested for Aiding Armed Groups

The Anambra State Police Command has announced the successful dismantling of a major logistics network supplying food and essential items to a criminal group linked to secessionist activities in the state. The operation took place on Thursday, December 11, 2025, following credible intelligence provided to security operatives.

In a statement released on Friday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, said officers from the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, and Agunechemba Unit apprehended two suspected members of the syndicateat a hideout near Orsumoghu and Aguluezechukwu.

The suspects, identified as 28-year-old Mmadubuchi Ike and 34-year-old Chinonso Izunobi, were alleged to have supplied food items and other essentials to a secessionist-linked criminal camp believed to be coordinating kidnappings, armed attacks, and other violent crimes across the state.

During the operation, police recovered:

• One Type-06 rifle with 10 live rounds

• Two pump-action guns

• Twenty live cartridges

SP Tochukwu stated that preliminary interrogations connected the suspects to serious offences, including the murder of a youth leader known as Biggy in the Ukpor area and multiple kidnapping incidents across Anambra State.

The arrests come amid heightened security concerns in communities around Ihiala, Nnewi South, and Aguata, where armed groups linked to secessionist agitation have reportedly intensified attacks in recent months. Incidents include targeted killings, kidnappings, and the recent attack on an Anglican church in Lilu community, which left worshippers dead, including the wife of the cleric.

Residents have expressed fear during evening hours, while travelers have reported frequent roadblocks by criminal gangs on isolated routes.

SP Tochukwu assured the public that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, is committed to rooting out armed groups threatening peace in the state, especially as the Christmas season approaches.

“To this end, intensive investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend additional members of the syndicate still at large,” SP Tochukwu said.

The command urged residents to continue providing useful information to support ongoing operations aimed at restoring calm across the state.

“The Command remains fully committed to ensuring the safety and security of all communities across Anambra, particularly during this festive period,” he added.