The Anambra State Police Command reiterated its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure the safety of residents.
KaNo —
Security operatives in Anambra and Ogun states have recorded significant breakthroughs in separate operations against violent crime, resulting in the killing of six suspected criminals, the recovery of arms and other incriminating items, and the arrest of two suspects accused of impersonating anti-narcotics officers.
In Anambra State, the Police Command confirmed the killing of four suspected members of a secessionist armed gang during a gun battle along the Ogboji–Ajalli Road in Orumba South Local Government Area.
The operation, which took place on Tuesday night, was carried out by a police-led Joint Security Patrol Team following credible intelligence on the movement of heavily armed criminals in the area.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the encounter occurred during a visibility and confidence-building patrol aimed at reassuring residents and deterring criminal activities.
According to him, the operatives engaged the suspects in a fierce gun duel, leading to the neutralisation of four members of the gang, while others fled the scene with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
“The Police-led Joint Security Patrol Team, Aguata Sector, recorded a major operational success on the evening of June 23, 2026, following an armed confrontation with a suspected secessionist armed gang along the Ogboji–Ajalli Road in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State,” the statement read.
The recovered exhibits include one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) with 53 rounds of linked live ammunition, two AK-47 rifles, two magazines, and several rounds of ammunition of different calibres.
Other items recovered from the scene include a white Toyota Sienna bus with Lagos registration number KJA 919 KH, ten Android phones, two feature phones, a laptop computer, a Point-of-Sale (POS) machine, and two power banks.
Additionally, security operatives found assorted charms, ATM cards, a National Identification Card, and a driver’s licence belonging to identified individuals, further linking the suspects to various criminal activities.
“The operation was carried out following credible intelligence gathered over time concerning the movement of heavily armed suspected members of a secessionist armed group operating in the aforementioned Toyota Sienna vehicle,” Ikenga stated.
He noted that preliminary investigations revealed that other members of the gang escaped into nearby bushes, prompting intensified search operations to track them down and recover additional weapons.
Consequently, the Joint Security Team has launched extensive combing operations in the area, with a view to apprehending the fleeing suspects and dismantling the criminal network.
The Anambra State Police Command reiterated its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure the safety of residents.
In a related development, the command also announced the arrest of two men accused of impersonating operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Awka.
The suspects, identified as Anthony Kelechi, 41, and Bright Abraham, 42, were apprehended by detectives attached to the Central Police Station following a viral video that showed them assaulting and handcuffing an auto-rickshaw rider.
Police investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly posed as NDLEA officials to intimidate and extort unsuspecting members of the public.
The command assured that the suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the law after the conclusion of investigations.
Ogun State Police Kill Two Suspected Kidnappers
Meanwhile, in Ogun State, operatives of the Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit killed two suspected kidnappers during a follow-up operation linked to the rescue of an abducted victim.
The operation, according to the command, was part of ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.
In a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the victim was abducted on June 11, 2026, at Ogbe Village.
Babaseyi stated that sustained intelligence gathering, surveillance, and operational pressure on the gang led to the safe release of the victim on June 18 without harm.
Subsequently, efforts were intensified to apprehend members of the kidnapping syndicate.
“Acting on credible intelligence, the operatives successfully traced members of the gang to their hideout within the state,” the statement said.
However, upon sighting the operatives, the suspects reportedly opened fire in a desperate attempt to evade arrest, leading to a gun duel.
“The operatives responded professionally, and during the exchange, two of the suspected kidnappers were neutralised, while other members of the gang fled the scene with gunshot injuries,” Babaseyi added.
A search conducted at the scene led to the recovery of a single-barrel gun, one expended cartridge, a mobile phone, and a cash sum of N2.2 million believed to be proceeds of criminal activities.
The police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and expand investigations into the gang’s operations.
The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni, commended the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for its gallantry and professionalism, noting that the success of the operation underscored the command’s resolve to tackle violent crime.
He assured residents that the command would continue to deploy intelligence-led policing strategies and tactical operations to safeguard lives and property.
Ojajuni also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation is essential in the fight against crime.
The latest operations in both states highlight ongoing efforts by security agencies to curb criminal activities, particularly kidnapping and armed insurgency, which continue to pose significant challenges in parts of the country.
