The Anambra State Police Command has recorded a significant breakthrough with the rescue of an abducted victim from a secessionist/terrorist camp in Awa, Orumba North Local Government Area of the state, and neutralised 4 suspects in the process.
The police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, in collaboration with the Anambra State Vigilante Group (AVG) Agunechemba, acting on credible intelligence, rescued the victim after they raided the terrorist camp in the early hours of August 21, 2025.
The Command‘s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, noting that the operation is part of ongoing efforts to rid the state of criminal elements.
“During the well-coordinated operation that lasted for more than 15 hours, the operatives successfully dislodged the insurgents, rescued a victim who had earlier been kidnapped and held hostage in the camp. It was reported that despite the payment of a ransom of ₦20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) only by the victim’s family, the hoodlums aborted his release until he was eventually freed by the Joint Security Team.
“In the fierce gun battle that ensued, 4 (four) of the criminal elements were neutralized. Exhibits recovered at the camp include: 2 (two) pump action guns, one fabricated AK-47 rifle, one K2 assault rifle, one locally made hunter gun, one radio transmission box, 3 (three) locally made Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 2 (two) empty gas cylinders, 2 (two) wraps of cable wires, 3 (three) bags of 50 kg rice, one driver’s license, one National Identity Card, one black Lexus RX 350 Jeep with Reg. No. ACA 340 MA, and 3 (three) Toyota Camry cars with Reg. Nos: ABC 268 FQ, EKY 151 CD, and FGG 706 ME,” SP Ikenga stated.
He highlighted other recovered items, including one black Toyota Camry car, five mobile phones (Infinix X6716B, Tecno Spark KL4, and three analogue phones), sleeping materials, one desert boot, one big cooler, and a roll of tarpaulin.
Commenting on the operation, the Anambra Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, assured residents of the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring public safety and security.
CP Orutugu added that extensive operations are ongoing in the area to track down and arrest other fleeing suspects as well as destroy other criminal camps in the state.
