Rita Odafe
On November 27, police from the Oba Divisional Headquarters in Anambra state detained a 19-year-old suspect, Ifechukwu Ibesimako, along with three accomplices.
The arrests occurred after a ransom of 200,000 Naira was paid for the release of the victims they had taken hostage.
The police also freed two young women, aged between 15 and 19, during the operation in Oba.
Initial investigations indicated that Ibesimako and his partners used social media to entice their victims into friendships before holding them captive for ransom payments from their families.
Further inquiries revealed additional details about their criminal network, including reports of another victim who had previously paid a ransom and was released months earlier.
SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesperson, confirmed the detention. He mentioned that the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, urged young people to exercise caution when interacting with individuals on social media and instructed that the suspects be transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping/Robbery Squad for a thorough investigation.
