By Ovat Abeng
Police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu in collaboration with the Anambra State Vigilante Group (AVG) Agunechemba, has neutralize four suspected insurgents terrorizing part of the State.
The state police public relations officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga who disclosed this in a statement in Awka on Saturday, said the operation was in a sustained effort to rid Anambra State of criminal elements.
He said the incident happened in the early hours of 21st August, 2025 at Awa community in Orumba North local government area of the State after the security operatives acting on credible intelligence, stormed a Secessionist/Terrorist camp at the council area.
According to Ikenga, 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, 3 (Three) Toyota Camry cars with Reg. Nos: ABC 268 FQ, EKY 151 CD and FGG 706 ME. Also recovered are: One black Toyota Camry car, 5 (Five) mobile phones (Infinix X6716B, Tecno Spark KL4 and 3 (Three) analogue phones), Sleeping materials, one desert boot, one big cooler, and a roll of tarpaulin.
The Commissioner of Police CP Ikioye Orutugu fwc MNIPS PhD while assuring Ndi Anambra that the Command remains resolute in its commitment to ensuring safety and security has assured 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.
Further developments would be communicated in due course, the PPRO noted.
