Police Arrest 2 Kidnappers After Victim Paid N15m Ransom In Anambra

Two kingpins of a kidnap syndicate whose victim allegedly paid N15 million to regain his freedom in Anambra State have been arrested by a team of anti-crime squad of the state police command.

According to the public relations officer of the state police command (PPRO), SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the two arrested are Dauda Mohammed, aged 38 years, and Umar Ali, popularly known as “Barjini”, aged 50 years.

He said that investigation revealed that it was their gang that carried out an operation on June 26, 2026 at Divine Heritage Lodge, Ukwulu, Dunukofia local government area.

The police spokesperson said that during the incident, the armed hoodlums had emerged from an uncompleted building behind the lodge, fired several gunshots, abducted their victim into a nearby bush, and later demanded a ransom of N30,000,000.

Ikenga said that after negotiations, the sum of ₦15,000,000 was paid before the victim regained his freedom after spending four days in captivity.

In a statement he issued yesterday in Awka, Ikenga said that it was a team of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, formerly known as Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Awkuzu, that carried out the operation that saw to the arrest of the two members of the kidnapped group about three days ago.

According to the police spokesperson, it was Dauda Mohammed who was first arrested by the police team, and that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to participating in several kidnapping operations in the State.

Ikenga further stated that Mohammed also identified one Umar Ali, also known as “Barjini,” aged 50, as the leader of their gang responsible for coordinating logistics and supplying operational weapons to the criminal network.

“He also mentioned other members of the syndicate identified as Usman and Gongola, who are currently at large”, the PPRO also stated.

Ikenga stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the gang allegedly relocated from armed bandit enclaves in the North-West and established criminal operations within parts of the South-East.

“Investigations also indicate that the syndicate used an AK-47 rifle, allegedly supplied by the gang leader, to carry out kidnapping and armed robbery operations.

“Acting swiftly on information obtained during the interrogation, operatives extended the operation to Ugwuoba Gariki Enugu State, where they successfully arrested Umar Ali, also known as “Barjini,” the state police command image-maker stated further.

“Let me assure Ndi Anambra and indeed all residents of Anambra that the Command remains resolute in denying criminals any safe haven within the State. We shall continue to sustain proactive operations, strengthen intelligence gathering, and work collaboratively with other security agencies to dismantle criminal networks wherever they may be.

“We also wish to reiterate the importance of public support. Security is a shared responsibility, and we urge residents to continue providing timely, credible, and actionable information that will assist the Police in preventing crime and bringing offenders to justice.

“As investigations continue, further updates will be communicated to the public in due course”, Ikenga concluded in the statement.