By Mick Oseji, Asaba
Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have arrested two brothers – Nonso Augustine Akpeh and Kingsley Akpeh for alleged involvement in the kidnapping of three female Cameroonian nationals in Onitsha, a commercial hub in the state.
The two brothers allegedly abducted the three Cameroonians November 10, 2025 in Onitsha, took them into Anam forest some kilometres away and murdered them after collecting N2.9million ransom from the victims’ relatives.
It was learnt that the enraged two brothers decided to kíll the victims when their relatives could not raise the N50million ransom initially demanded to set the captives free.
It was further learnt that the scoundrels threw the victims’ corpses in Anam river, causing panic when the villagers found them floating about five days after they were brutally cut down.
SP Ikenga Tochukwu confirmed the arrest of the suspects, saying the command remains resolute in combating kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.
Ikenga who is the Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Police Command, in a statement on Thursday, revealed that the victims were kidnapped while on a business trip to purchase goods in Onitsha.
He cited Pump Action gun, a fabricated double-barrel gun and 10 live cartridges as items recovered from the suspects.
He stated, “Anambra State Police Command wishes to inform the general public of the arrest of two suspects one Nonso Augustine Akpeh ‘M’ aged 37 years and Kingsley Akpeh ‘M’ aged 44 years allegedly involved in the kidnapping of three Cameroonian nationals abducted on 10th November 2025 in Onitsha, Anambra State. The Operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu also recovered one (1) Pump Action gun, one (1) locally fabricated double-barrel gun
and ten (10) live cartridges.Preliminary information by the relative of the victims on 13th November 2025 revealed that the victims were kidnapped while on a business trip to purchase goods in Onitsha.
Furthermore, it was revealed that the abductors refused to release the victims after Two Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira was paid from the initial demand of Fifty Million Naira by the armed criminals.
During the interrogation of the suspects, they further named Uchenna Nicholas Mmadu as an accomplice. Meanwhile, the suspects subsequently led police operatives to various bush locations in Anam Community where the victims had been held. The second suspect, Kingsley Akpeh, attempted to escape, but was shot in the leg and re-arrested.
Also, during the Police search of the victims in the bush, they interacted with the people in the area as unpleasant information indicates that three unidentified female corpses were discovered floating in a nearby river approximately five days ago, within the vicinity where the victims were reportedly kept. These bodies are strongly suspected to be those of the kidnapped victims.
To this end, investigation is still in progress as the operatives have intensified efforts to locate and recover the victims’ bodies, arrest the fleeing suspect, and uncover the full extent of the criminal network.
Anambra State Police Command remains resolute in combating kidnapping and all forms of violent crimes in the State. Further developments will be communicated in due course.”
