Anambra Vigilante Services have apprehended at least eight suspected gunmen in Awka and surrounding areas.
The state Commissioner for Homeland Matters, Chief Chikodi Anarah, verified the arrests to journalists on Tuesday, noting that arms and ammunition were also seized from the suspects.
The state has faced a wave of gunmen attacks since Saturday, with at least four kidnappings reported.
Three unidentified individuals were kidnapped on Saturday along Ifite-Amansea-Awka Road and Agulu-Oraukwu Road in Awka South and Anaocha Local Government Areas, respectively.
The state capital has recently experienced around 14 incidents of kidnappings and cult-related killings.
Among the suspects, three were intercepted at the Amansea boundary between Anambra and Enugu states, while four others, reportedly involved in phone snatching from commuters in Keke tricycles, were arrested in Awka.
Anarah attributed the arrests to a response to the recent surge in killings and kidnappings in the area, noting that three kidnapped individuals had regained their freedom thanks to public tips about their hideouts.
The suspects were reportedly operating from outside Anambra State, retreating after their operations.
Anarah stated, “The AVG arrested about eight suspected gunmen terrorising the state in recent times. Although information about the suspects cannot be made public as it would affect investigations and operations of security operatives.”
Spokeperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, announced that the police have begun combing relaxation centres in the state to identify and apprehend other criminal elements.
Ikenga emphasized that the police had previously warned against harbouring cultists, stating, “The command has reiterated its advice to proprietors of hotels, drinking bars and other relaxation centres to be mindful of the characters of those that patronise them as the government would not hesitate to close down anyone that is discovered as a take-off point of operations by those criminal elements.”
