The Anambra State Police Command has apprehended a couple, Kingsley Okoye, 36, and Chidinma Okoye, 27, for allegedly issuing threat messages and attempting to abduct unsuspecting individuals.

In a statement released on Friday, the command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, revealed that the couple specialised in sending threatening text messages to victims, demanding ransom under the ultimatum of either abduction or murder.

Ikenga disclosed that the arrest was carried out by a joint security force comprising police officers and vigilante operatives, using technology-driven intelligence.

“The couple specialises in sending threatening messages to people and demanding ransom or they shall be abducted or killed. They all confessed to the crime and admitted to destroying some of the sim cards which they had earlier used to commit the crimes,” Ikenga said.

He added that the suspects were apprehended in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, and that phones and sim cards linked to their crimes were recovered during the operation.

Ikenga stated, “The Anambra State Police Command is aware and already investigating a related recent trending voice note of a security report on how a victim escaped abduction by an alleged security operative.

“Given reports of text messages and voice notes received by unsuspecting members of the public on threats of abduction and kidnap, the Joint Security Force comprising the Police and AVG acting on technology-driven information in the early hours of today (Friday), arrested a couple, one Mr. Okoye Kingsley aged 36 years and Mrs. Chidinma Okoye aged 27 years respectively in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State. Phones and sim cards were recovered.”

According to the police spokesperson, the suspects admitted their involvement in the crimes and confessed to destroying several sim cards used in carrying out their illegal activities.

The state Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the anti-kidnapping/robbery squad for comprehensive investigations.

The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.

In a related development, Ikenga noted that the command is investigating a recent voice note that detailed a security report regarding a victim who narrowly escaped abduction by an alleged security operative.

“The command did not take the information for granted. Hence, it activates all the necessary intelligence tools to unmask the suspects and nip the issue in the bud to avoid reoccurrence,” Ikenga added.