The Anambra State Police Command has successfully apprehended a 25-year-old man, Emmanuel Mark, in connection with armed robbery and kidnapping activities. Mark was arrested during an intelligence-led operation conducted by the Rapid Response Squad in Awkuzu on August 27, 2026.

According to a statement released by the police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, Mark is believed to be part of a four-man criminal syndicate operating in the Ifite Awka area of Awka South Local Government Area. The operation, which led to his arrest, also resulted in the recovery of several firearms, including a locally fabricated pistol and two pump-action guns, along with a military-pattern face cap.

Ikenga detailed that preliminary investigations revealed Mark's involvement in the kidnapping of a victim on July 22, 2026. The victim was reportedly robbed of his valuables and subsequently murdered, with his remains discovered abandoned in a bush. Mark allegedly confessed to collaborating with other members of his gang, who are still at large, to target unsuspecting individuals.

The modus operandi of the syndicate involved using a tricycle to block their victims, feigning that the victim had damaged the vehicle. This would lead to an argument, during which the gang would overpower the victim at gunpoint and transport them to their hideout in Umoji, Ebenebe. There, victims were reportedly tortured and robbed of their possessions.

In light of these developments, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Nnanna Ama, has mandated a thorough investigation into the case and instructed police operatives to intensify efforts to capture the remaining members of the syndicate. The police command has reassured the public of its commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations aimed at combating armed robbery, kidnapping, and other violent crimes throughout the state.