The Anambra state police command has apprehended two suspects for their participation in a self-planned kidnapping and extortion attempt within the state.
As reported, the two suspects identified as Chinecherem Okonkwo, a 28-year-old female student of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, and Chinecherem Aronu, a 30-year-old male allegedly planned their own kidnapping and used an unknown voice to request a ransom of #10 million from the family.
This development was made known via a statement released by the spokesperson of the Anambra state police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga on monday.
Ikenga also noted that the suspects were arrested at a lodge located at UNIZIK temporary site, Awka by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), who carried out a targeted investigation on a report made on abduction of a female student.
Anambra state police command’s press statement
The statement reads, “The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects involved in a self-orchestrated kidnap incident designed to extort money from the victim’s own family.
“The suspects are Chinecherem Okonkwo ‘f’ age 28years old and Chinecherem Aronu ‘m’ age 30years old.
“Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad acting on an intelligence-led investigation of a disturbing report of alleged abduction of Chinecherem Nwaokoye, a female student of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), stormed a lodge located at UNIZIK Temp Site, Awka, where the victim was found alive and in the company of her male accomplice.
“According to the report, Chinecherem had earlier contacted her family on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, informing them that she was returning home from school but never arrived.
“Her phone remained switched off throughout that day. On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, her family received a call from an unknown male voice who claimed responsibility for her kidnapping and demanded a ransom of ₦10 million only.
“After negotiations, the ransom was reduced to ₦3,000,000, and a part payment of ₦1,000,000 was later paid into the victim’s bank account.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has directed that the suspects be charged to court without delay and condemned the incident as a clear sign of deepening moral decay among some youths in the society.
“He warned that the Command will not tolerate such criminal deception and called on parents and guardians to pay closer attention to the activities and peer influence on their children.”
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