The Anambra State Police Command announced the arrest of two syndicates that specialise in extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public using “deadly” threats.
DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the state police spokesman, confirmed this in a statement made on Thursday.
Ikenga went on to say that the suspects were apprehended after a lengthy investigation by police officers in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area, and Umunze, Orumba South LGA.
He said, “Police operatives in Ozubulu and Umunze towns in Anambra State have smashed two deadly syndicates extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public via deadly threats.
“At Umunze, Orumba South LGA Headquarters, two suspects were nabbed after painstaking investigation.
“The suspects had sent text messages to their victim identifying themselves as members of Eastern Security Network and demanding that he pay them a huge sum or else he and his daughter would be kidnapped and killed.
“Both suspects are now cooling their feet in detention and will be arraigned in court soon.
“In a similar development, the Police at Ozubulu, Headquarters of Ekwusigo LGA arrested one male suspect who used two different lines to issue deadly threats to a businessman. He claimed to be an ESN Commander and ordered his victim to pay up or be killed.
“Meticulous investigation employing technology and human assets led detectives to his hideout where he was arrested and both sims recovered. He was taken into custody and is to be arraigned in court.
He added that the state Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, commended both DPOs for their diligence and painstaking effort which led to unravelling the identities of the suspects and apprehending them.
He said the CP assured all that the command will continue to motivate its personnel across the state for optimum performance.