Anambra Police Arrest 25-Year-Old Suspect Linked to 2023 Kidnap, Murder

Anambra Police Arrest 25-Year-Old Suspect Linked to 2023 Kidnap, Murder

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Olisa Oyelu, also known as “Obele,” over his alleged involvement in a 2023 kidnapping operation that resulted in the death of a victim.

Oyelu was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday, September 23, 2026, by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) following sustained intelligence gathering and investigations into the incident.

The arrest was disclosed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement issued on Thursday, September 24.

According to the police, Oyelu is allegedly an active member of a notorious armed robbery and kidnapping gang led by a suspected criminal identified as “Pincode.”

The command described Oyelu as the last identified member of the gang to be arrested in connection with the 2023 kidnapping case.

Police said investigations were launched after the incident with the aim of identifying, arresting and prosecuting all persons allegedly connected with the crime.

The command said the investigation eventually led to the arrest of Oyelu after he had allegedly remained at large for about three years.

The police did not disclose the identity of the victim or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the victim’s death.

The command said that, after the completion of the ongoing investigative proceedings, Oyelu would be handed over to the correctional authorities.

The police also disclosed that “Pincode” and four other suspects linked to the case are already being held on remand at a correctional facility while awaiting the determination of their cases by the court.

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The arrest, according to the command, represents a significant development in the investigation and reflects its efforts to identify and prosecute all persons allegedly involved in the crime.

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnanna Ama, commended the operatives involved in the investigation for their perseverance, dedication and intelligence-led approach.

Ama assured residents that the command would continue to pursue suspected criminal elements operating within and outside Anambra State, with the aim of bringing suspects before the law.

He also urged members of the public to provide the police with credible and timely information that could assist ongoing investigations and improve security across the state.

The latest arrest comes amid continued police operations targeting suspected kidnapping and armed robbery networks in Anambra and other parts of the South-East.

Oyelu remains a suspect, and the allegations against him have not been established in court.

Anambra Police Arrest 25-Year-Old Suspect Linked to 2023 Kidnap, Murder