Anambra: Police arrest 24-year-old man for planning friend’s kidnap

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old man, Victor Muanaenye, for allegedly masterminding the kidnapping of his own friend and collecting a ransom of ₦5.3 million.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the arrest, revealing that the suspect conspired with members of a kidnapping gang to carry out the crime.

While the identity of the victim and the exact date of the incident were not disclosed, the police assured the public that investigations are ongoing and that efforts are being intensified to apprehend the remaining gang members.

The spokesperson said operatives from Uli Divisional Police Headquarters arrested Mr Muanaenye on Thursday evening after receiving a tip-off about the incident.

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Mr Ikenga said the suspect allegedly planned the kidnapping of his unnamed friend and collected the ransom before the victim was released.

“The suspect, during interrogation, confessed to having planned the kidnapping plot by luring his friend to escort him to see another friend.

“Victor and his criminal gang allegedly abducted their friend, and to avoid suspicion, Victor pretended to have been kidnapped by his criminal gang,” he stated.

The spokesperson said the suspect was already cooperating with the police by providing information that would help in tracking down the fleeing members of the gang.

He said the suspect would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of the investigation.

“The Command remains committed towards improving safety and security in the state,” he said.

Nigeria, in May 2022, enacted the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2022), which outlawed all forms of kidnapping in the country.

The Act prescribes a death sentence for kidnapping in a case where the abduction leads to loss of life and life imprisonment where there is no loss of life.

It was an amendment to the now-defunct Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2013), which had prescribed a 10-year jail term for kidnapping.

The new Act also prescribes at least a 15-year jail term for whoever pays ransom to free kidnap victims.

Several people have been convicted of kidnapping across the country.

An Ikeja Special Offences Court, in September 2022, sentenced kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping.

Also, the Federal High Court in Abuja, in August 2022, sentenced a kidnap kingpin in Taraba State, Hamisu Bala, popularly known as Wadume, to seven years in jail.