The Anambra State Police Command says it has rescued a kidnap victim, arrested seven suspects from two different gangs and recovered a commercial tricycle allegedly stolen in Delta State.

Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochukwu Ikenga said the work was done by the Anambra unit of the Inspector-General of Police’s Violent Crime Response Unit and was based on intelligence.

Two men were arrested in the early hours of 16 August at Akpukpokelemu village, Nimo, in Njikoka Local Government Area.

Police named them as Victor Onwuka, also called “Bugatti”, and Madukaife Chidiebere Kenechukwu, 30. They are alleged to have abducted a man, held him for three days, withdrawn N7 million from his bank accounts and driven off in his Toyota Highlander.

Ikenga said the victim identified both men and that they had admitted their roles under questioning. Officers say they are using that information to look for other members of the group who are still free.

Five other suspects were tied to a TVS tricycle with registration number ASB595VD, which police say was snatched in Asaba, Delta State, in April. Nwakpa Friday, 38, was arrested on 15 September at Old Road, Nkpor, with the keke. Police later named Sylvester Nteshi, 53; Nwuzor Livinus, 35; Mgbom Uche, 27; and Chiweuba Chukwudi, 42, as co-suspects. The vehicle and the five men are in custody while investigators sort out who did what.

Commissioner of Police Nnanna Oji Ama commended the officers and said the command would keep using intelligence to break up gangs that work across state lines.

The seven remain suspects. No charge dates were released with the statement. The command said the hunt for the rest of both networks is continuing.