Anambra Police Operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu,
during a coordinated operation, said they arrested 38 year-old Dauda Mohamed, a suspected member of a notorious kidnapping syndicate in Kogi State.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga (SP), disclosed this in a press statement made available to journalists on August 1st.
The suspect allegedly confessed to participating in several kidnapping operations in Anambra State.
He was said to have identified 50 year-old Umar Ali, also known as “Barjini,”, as the leader of the gang responsible for coordinating logistics and supplying operational weapons to the criminal network.
The nabbed suspect according to the police spokesperson,, also mentioned other members of the syndicate identified simply as Usman and Gongola, who are currently at large.
Ikenga pointed out that the investigation directly linked the suspects to the kidnapping of a victim which occurred on the 26th June, 2026 at Divine Heritage Lodge, Ukwulu, Dunukofia LGA.
“In that incident, armed hoodlums emerged from an uncompleted building behind the lodge, fired several gunshots, abducted the victim into a nearby bush, and later demanded a ransom of N30 million.
“After negotiations, the sum of N15 million was paid before the victim regained his freedom after spending gruesome four days in captivity.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the gang allegedly relocated from armed bandit enclaves in the North-West and established criminal operations within parts of the South-East.
“Investigations also indicate that the syndicate used an AK-47 rifle, allegedly supplied by the gang leader, to carry out kidnapping and armed robbery operations.
“Acting swiftly on information obtained during interrogation, police investigators extended their operation to Ugwuoba and Gariki in Enugu State, where they successfully arrested Umar Ali, also known as Barjini,” he said .
The PPRO assured Ndi Anambra and residents that the Command remains resolute in denying criminals any safe haven within the State.
He said that the command will continue to sustain proactive operations, strengthen intelligence gathering, and work collaboratively with other security agencies to dismantle criminal networks wherever they may be.
