By Amaka Okafor
The Ebonyi State Police Command has announced the arrest of one Ajah Ikechukwu who allegedly staged his own kidnapping and demanded a ₦25 million ransom from his family.
The Commissioner of Police, Hope Urunwa Okafor, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Abakaliki, where she also announced the recovery of 31 assorted firearms, 33 rounds of ammunition of different calibres and three vehicles during the period under review.
According to the police, the suspect’s family transferred ₦1 million into an account provided by him before intelligence-led investigation led to his arrest. “The deliberate staging of kidnappings and the extortion of unsuspecting family members under false pretences are serious criminal offences and will be investigated and prosecuted,” she warned.
The 699 suspects in connection with 372 reported criminal cases between April and September 2026, with 309 suspects already charged to court as the Command intensified efforts to combat crime and maintain peace across the state.
Okafor said the suspects comprised 660 males and 39 females, adding that 309 suspects were prosecuted in connection with 162 cases, while investigations into other cases were ongoing. She said the Command had also sustained engagements with farmers, herders, traditional rulers and community leaders to prevent land-related disputes and other conflicts from escalating into violence.
“The Command has continued to proactively address recurring security challenges, particularly those arising from land-related disputes during the farming season,” the CP said, adding that intelligence gathering and strategic deployment of personnel to flashpoints had “drastically reduced the number of skirmishes encountered in the state.”
Among the major breakthroughs, the police said operatives arrested several suspects over unlawful possession of firearms and recovered weapons, including pump-action guns, locally made pistols, an AK-47 rifle, cartridges and other illicit items. The Command also recovered a suspected stolen Honda Accord vehicle in Nkomoro Community, Ezza North Local Government Area, where 19 voter cards and two mobile phones were allegedly found inside the vehicle.
In another operation, police rescued a kidnapping victim, Chigbo Lucy, unhurt after suspected kidnappers were intercepted around Ebebe Junction. One suspect, Stephen Job, was subsequently arrested, while a locally made pistol, 13 live cartridges, a black mask, gloves and assorted charms were allegedly recovered from his residence. The Command said efforts were ongoing to arrest other fleeing suspects.
Okafor further announced the arrest of two additional suspects, Friday Nwafor and Ozomena Pius, popularly known as “Oxygen,” in connection with the murder of the Traditional Ruler of Ishinkwo Autonomous Community in Onicha Local Government Area, HRH Josephat Ikegwu. She said the suspects were arrested at a hideout in Ishiagu, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, following sustained intelligence operations, and had been arraigned in court.
The police boss also disclosed the arrest of Okechukwu Emmanuel over allegations of cyberbullying, cyberstalking, threats to life and alleged extortion involving the non-consensual recording and circulation of an intimate video. She said the suspect allegedly demanded ₦17 million from the victim’s father and threatened wider circulation of the video, adding that he would be charged to court after investigation.
On preparations for the 2027 elections, Okafor assured residents that the Command would remain “apolitical, impartial and professional,” warning that violence, intimidation, hate speech and other acts capable of disrupting the electoral process would not be tolerated. She urged residents to provide credible information to the police and report security threats through the Command control room on 07064515001.
