Security Operatives Kill 17-year-old Boy While Arresting Suspect

.Police arrest 19-year-old for kidnapping 

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Police in Anambra State have arrested two security operatives for accidentally killing a 17 years old boy in Onitsha Main Market while trying to arrest a suspect.

This is coming as a 19-year-old boy who is suspected to be a member of a deadly criminal gang that specialises in kidnapping has been arrested.

Both information were contained in separate press statements issued by the Anambra State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.

Ikenga said the security operatives suspected to be members of the local vigilante shot sporadically into the air, while attempting to arrest a suspect but a boy was hit by a bullet leading to his death.

“Police operatives attached to the Onitsha Main Market Police Division leveraging on the support of some traders, have arrested two suspects allegedly involved in the murder of a 17-year-old boy and recovered one automatic pump action gun. 

“Eyewitness accounts revealed that the suspects who were allegedly security operatives while attempting to arrest a suspect started shooting indiscriminately and regrettably, a bullet hit the innocent boy,” Ikenga said.

Meanwhile, police operatives attached to the Awgbu Divisional Headquarters leveraging on community support on 12th June 2025 by 10.20a.m. arrested one Chimaobi Mbonu ‘m’ aged 19 years old.

“He is allegedly a member of a kidnapping gang involved in the kidnap and murder of late Mr. George Onwurah in May 2024 at Ndiukwuenu Village, Orumba North Local Government Area. 

“Preliminary information revealed that the said Chimaobi and some other gang members still at large kidnapped and tortured their victims to death after collecting ransom. 

“The criminal gang is also responsible for the vandalism of the Community Health Care Centre, where they stole a lot of electrical materials and other valuables.”

Ikenga said given the above incidences, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikoiye Orutugu, while frowning at such avoidable and unprofessional behaviour of the security operatives, ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, for a comprehensive investigation.

He also ordered operatives to place operational plans to arrest other gang members of 19 years old Mbonu that are currently at large.