Anambra Police Arrest Suspect Linked to 2023 Kidnapping

Anambra Police Arrest Suspect Linked to 2023 Kidnapping and Murder after police operatives in the state arrested a 25-year-old man who is allegedly connected to a kidnapping operation that took place in 2023 and resulted in the death of the victim.

The suspect has been identified as Olisa Oyelu, also known as “Obele.” The Anambra State Police Command said he was allegedly a member of an armed robbery and kidnapping gang led by a suspected criminal known as “Pincode.”

Oyelu was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday, September 23, 2026. His arrest was announced by the Anambra State Police Command on Thursday, September 24.

According to the police, the arrest followed sustained intelligence gathering and detailed investigation by operatives attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department, also known as the SCID.

Police Say Suspect Was Last Identified Gang Member

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

The command said the gang was allegedly involved in the kidnapping operation that ended with the death of the victim.

The police did not publicly identify the victim in the statement announcing Oyelu’s arrest.

They also did not provide further details about how the victim died or where the kidnapping took place.

Those details remain important parts of the case, but the latest police statement focused mainly on the arrest of Oyelu and the progress of the investigation.

The state police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed the development in a statement issued to journalists in Awka.

Ikenga said the police began an extensive investigation after the 2023 incident.

The investigation was aimed at identifying people allegedly connected with the crime, arresting them and taking appropriate legal action.

The latest arrest, according to the command, is a result of that continuing investigation.

Arrest Came After Years of Investigation

The case has remained under investigation for several years.

Oyelu was not arrested at the time of the 2023 incident. Police said sustained intelligence gathering eventually helped investigators track him down.

The arrest therefore adds another development to a case that has continued long after the original kidnapping.

Premium Times reported that police said Oyelu had remained in hiding for about three years before his arrest. The publication also reported that he was allegedly part of the gang linked to the kidnapping and death of the victim.

For investigators, locating a suspect several years after an alleged crime can be difficult.

People can move from one location to another. Identities can also be concealed. Investigators may therefore depend on information gathered over time to establish links between suspects and earlier criminal incidents.

In this case, the Anambra Police Command said intelligence gathering played an important role in locating Oyelu.

The command has not released detailed information about the specific intelligence that led investigators to him.

Police Link Oyelu to ‘Pincode’ Gang

According to the police, Oyelu was allegedly an active member of a notorious armed robbery and kidnapping gang.

The gang was reportedly led by a suspect known as “Pincode.”

Police said the gang was connected to the 2023 kidnapping operation that resulted in the death of the victim.

Oyelu is now the latest suspect to enter police custody in connection with the investigation.

The command said “Pincode” and four other suspects are already being remanded while their case is before the court.

After the investigative proceedings involving Oyelu are concluded, the police said he will also be handed over to the Correctional Centre.

This means the latest arrest is not the end of the case.

Instead, it is another stage in an investigation that has already resulted in the arrest of several suspects.

The Anambra State Police Command said its investigation was launched with the aim of identifying everyone allegedly connected to the crime.

That process has continued over the years.

The command described Oyelu’s arrest as a significant development.

Police said the investigation is intended to establish the involvement of persons connected with the alleged kidnapping and ensure that those found responsible are prosecuted.

It is important, however, to distinguish an allegation from a conviction.

Oyelu has been arrested and accused by the police of involvement in the alleged criminal operation. He has not been convicted by a court based on the information currently available.

The same applies to the other suspects mentioned by the police.

Their alleged involvement remains subject to the judicial process.

Commissioner Commends Investigators

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, commended the officers involved in the investigation.

According to the police, the commissioner praised their perseverance and dedication.

He also highlighted the intelligence-led approach used by investigators to track down the suspect.

The commissioner assured residents that the police would continue efforts to apprehend suspected criminals operating within Anambra and outside the state.

He also urged members of the public to continue providing information that could assist security agencies.

The police chief described security as a shared responsibility.

That appeal is significant in investigations involving organised criminal groups.

Information from members of the public can sometimes help investigators identify suspects, establish movements and connect separate pieces of evidence.

The police therefore want residents to report credible information that could assist ongoing investigations.

What Happens to the Suspect Now?

The next stage will involve the completion of the police investigation.

The command said Oyelu will be handed over to the Correctional Centre after the investigative proceedings are concluded.

He is expected to join “Pincode” and four other suspects who are already being remanded, according to the police.

The case will then continue through the legal process.

At this point, the available information does not establish a final court finding against Oyelu.

That distinction matters in reporting criminal cases.

An arrest means that law enforcement has taken a person into custody in connection with an alleged offence. It does not, by itself, prove that the person committed the offence.

The court will ultimately determine the legal outcome of the case.

Why the Arrest Matters to the Investigation

The arrest is significant because of the length of time between the alleged crime and the suspect’s detention.

The 2023 kidnapping incident has been under investigation for years.

The police now say they have identified and arrested the last known member of the gang connected to the case.

That could provide investigators with an opportunity to gather further information about the alleged activities of the group.

However, any information obtained from the suspect will still need to be examined as part of the investigation and legal process.

Police have not released all the details surrounding the original kidnapping.

They have also not disclosed the identity of the victim in their latest statements.

For now, the central development is the arrest of Oyelu and the police allegation that he was part of the gang linked to the 2023 incident.

Donjoe Media Report

According to Donjoe Media, the arrest of Olisa Oyelu represents a new development in the Anambra Police investigation into a 2023 kidnapping that resulted in the death of a victim.

Oyelu, 25, was arrested on September 23, 2026, by operatives attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

Police said the arrest followed sustained intelligence gathering and detailed investigation.

The command identified him as the last known member of an alleged armed robbery and kidnapping gang led by a suspect known as “Pincode.”

The police further alleged that Oyelu was an active member of the gang involved in the 2023 kidnapping operation.

The case has already led to the detention of other suspects.

Police said “Pincode” and four others are currently being remanded while their case awaits determination by the court.

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Oyelu is expected to be transferred to the Correctional Centre after the police conclude the relevant investigative proceedings.

The Commissioner of Police has meanwhile praised the officers who worked on the case and urged residents to continue providing credible information.

For the victim’s family and others following the case, the latest arrest brings another step in an investigation that has remained open for years.

The case, however, is not yet over.

Further investigation and court proceedings will determine what happens next.

Donjoe Media will continue to monitor the case and provide updates based on verified information from the police, court records and other credible sources.

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