Though Morah and Chibuodu were said to have been arrested by an operation led by then Assistant Commissioner of police ACP, Joseph Agugoesi, Nwankwo’s, however, was said to have escaped following which the police declared him wanted
By Okechukwu Obeta
The men of Anambra state police command have eventually arrested a suspected kidnap kingpin, one Matthew Nwankwo who was said to have been on the run since over seven years.
It was learnt that Nwankwo had been on the run since July 2015 after the demolition of his house in his Nteje village, Oyi local government area.
It was gathered that Nwankwo’s house was demolished along with those of his two other co-suspected kidnap kingpins: Solomon Chibuzo Morah and Hyacinth Chibuodu, both natives of a neighbouring Umueri community in Anambra East local government.
The houses of the trio were demolished by the then Governor Willie Obiano administration because of their alleged involvement in kidnapping activities.
Though Morah and Chibuodu were said to have been arrested by an operation led by then Assistant Commissioner of police ACP, Joseph Agugoesi, Nwankwo’s, however, was said to have escaped following which the police declared him wanted.
One of the suspects, Morah was said to have confessed to the police during interrogation that he had made about N70million from kidnapping activities.
When contacted, yesterday spokesman of the Anambra state police command, Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Ikenga Tochukwu confirmed that Nwankwo was in the custody of the police command, but, however, promised to give details concerning his arrest later.
“The suspect(Matthew Cyril Nwankwo)is in custody and further development shall be completed”, the police command spokesman’s SMS read.
It was gathered that a team of operatives of the state police command had stormed Nwankwo’s Nteje home in the wee hours of Tuesday and arrested.
His arrested source said followed a tip off to the police that he had sneaked into the village. It was gathered that he was being detained at the headquarters of the state police criminal investigation department (SCID), Amawbia as at the time of filing this report.