By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Anambra State Police Command has rescued a South Africa-based Nigerian who was abducted earlier this month, following a routine security patrol around the Isulo axis of Orumba South Local Government Area of the state.
The rescue, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, 15 January, 2026, was carried out by police-led joint security operatives attached to the Forward Operating Base in Aguata. The operatives encountered the victim during a visibility patrol, leading to his eventual extraction and safety.
In a statement issued on Friday, 16 January, 2026, the police spokesperson in Anambra, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the victim disclosed that he is a Nigerian citizen and a native of Obinagu–Isikweachi in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State, although he is currently based in South Africa.
According to Ikenga, the man was abducted on Thursday, 1 January, 2026, during the evening hours from his hometown by a gang of six armed men who reportedly masked their faces.
He explained that the kidnappers subsequently contacted the victim’s wife and relatives, demanding a ransom of ₦40 million.
However, Ikenga said the victim managed to escape from the kidnappers’ hideout, an action that ultimately led to his rescue when he encountered the joint security operatives during their patrol.
Following his rescue, the police spokesperson stated that the victim was properly debriefed and has since been reunited with his family.
He added that operatives are now working with actionable intelligence provided by the victim to identify and dismantle the criminal hideout in the area, as well as arrest those responsible for the abduction.
Meanwhile, Ikenga reiterated the command’s commitment to sustaining proactive and intelligence-driven policing across the state.
He assured residents that further developments would be communicated as investigations continue.
