A 24-year-old man, Muanaenye Chekwube Victor, has been arrested by the Anambra State Police Command for allegedly masterminding the kidnapping of his own friend in Uli, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.
DAILY GAZETTE reports that the suspect conspired with members of a criminal gang to abduct his friend and later collected a ransom equivalent to ₦5.3 million in dollars before releasing the victim.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the arrest, stating that Victor was apprehended by operatives attached to the Uli Divisional Headquarters on Friday.
“Police operatives attached to Uli Divisional Headquarters on the evening of June 26, 2025, exposed and arrested one Muanaenye Chekwube Victor ‘M’ aged 24 years over a reported case of kidnapping,” Ikenga stated.
He explained that an investigation revealed the suspect had planned the entire operation and shared the ransom proceeds with his gang.
“The case which is under investigation revealed that the suspect planned the kidnapping and collected a ransom in dollars equivalent of ₦5.3 million with his gang members before the victim was released.”
During police interrogation, Victor reportedly confessed to orchestrating the crime by deceiving the victim into believing they were going to visit another friend.
“The suspect during interrogation confessed to having planned the kidnapping plot by luring his friend to escort him to see another friend.”
In a further twist, Ikenga revealed that Victor pretended to be a victim of the same abduction to avoid raising suspicion.
“Victor and his criminal gang allegedly abducted their friend and to avoid suspicion, pretended to have been kidnapped by his criminal gang.”
The police spokesperson added that the suspect is currently cooperating with authorities and providing useful information that could lead to the arrest of his accomplices.
“Meanwhile, he is now cooperating with the police, providing information to help apprehend his accomplices, and will face prosecution at the conclusion of the investigation.”
The Anambra State Police Command has reiterated its commitment to bringing all those involved in the crime to justice.
