The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a second suspect in connection with a violent kidnapping and armed robbery case in Awka, deepening an ongoing probe into a suspected three-man criminal gang said to be terrorising parts of the state.

Police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga announced that operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, picked up 32-year-old Ifeanyi Ekemezie in Isuaniocha, Awka North Local Government Area, following fresh intelligence generated from earlier arrests and bank records analysis.

Ekemezie is believed to be part of a gang linked to a December 31 attack in Amansea, Awka North, where a resident was allegedly ambushed at his home, robbed, kidnapped and shot in the leg before being abandoned at an undisclosed location. During the assault, the victim’s Toyota Highlander SUV was taken and about ₦3 million was reportedly transferred from his bank account under duress.

The breakthrough in the case began when detectives arrested 33-year-old Ndubuisi Anyakaku, whose bank account was allegedly used to receive a ₦1 million ransom from the same victim. Investigators say financial tracking of the ransom payment helped them map out connections within the suspected gang and identify additional accomplices.

Ikenga said that during interrogation, Ekemezie confessed to belonging to a three-man syndicate that specialises in kidnapping and car snatching in Awka and neighbouring communities. He also allegedly admitted membership of the Vikings confraternity and involvement in several cult-related killings in the state capital.

Police authorities describe the case as part of a broader crackdown on cultism and violent crime in Anambra, where rival cult groups and armed gangs have been blamed for a series of killings, robberies and abductions. The Command has launched manhunts for the remaining members of the gang, who are currently on the run, and is working to recover weapons believed to have been used in previous operations.

Ikenga said the Command is consolidating evidence from the victim’s testimony, bank transactions, confessional statements and forensic analysis of recovered items to build a strong case for prosecution. He added that further details would be released as investigations progress, while urging residents to provide credible information that could help track fleeing suspects and dismantle related criminal networks.