In a recent press conference, the Anambra State Police command shared insights into the arrest of a group of suspected kidnappers who confessed to exploiting Facebook as a tool to attract their victims. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Aderemi Adeoye, disclosed the details on Monday, revealing that the suspects utilized appealing photos of women on the social media platform to entice individuals.
Since December 1, 2023, the Anambra State Police command has made approximately 30 arrests, including 12 related to kidnapping, nine to armed robbery, six to cultism, and three to insurgency across the state. The suspects were found in possession of 11 vehicles, 12 firearms, and 40 rounds of ammunition during this period.
Adeoye further shared details of an incident where a gang of attackers killed two police personnel from the Enugu command at Uga Roundabout in the Aguata Local Government area. The culprits were traced to their camp in Ogboji forest, resulting in two of them being fatally shot by the police.
Among those arrested is Emmanuel Orjiakor, a notorious armed robber and kidnapper from Oba, who sustained gunshot injuries during an encounter with the Anambra Vigilante Group. Another suspect, 27-year-old Obinna Ekwunife, was apprehended in connection with the kidnapping of Emmanuel Tobechukwu, who paid a ransom of N9 million to a POS operator.
The suspects confessed to luring victims to their hideout by using Facebook accounts with pictures of attractive women, where they would demand ransom before releasing them. The revelation highlights the evolving tactics employed by criminals in exploiting social media platforms for criminal activities.
