PoS Operator In Police Net For Receiving And Distributing Ramsom In Abia

The Abia State Police Command says it has apprehended a PoS operator who is a member of a kidnap syndicate operating in the state, who assists in receiving and distributing ransom.

The Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, CP Wilfred Afolabi disclosed this on Friday in Umuahia while briefing journalists on the achievements of the force in the last one month.

According to CP Afolabi, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) Abia State Police Command, on 03/09/2026, apprehended Joseph Uzoma Iheonunaekwu in connection with an armed robbery and car-snatching incident along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Aba.

“The suspect was apprehended after a group of armed hoodlums robbed a female victim of her Toyota Highlander and handbag containing mobile phones and other personal belongings”.

“The operatives swiftly mobilized to the scene on Intel, resulting in the apprehension of the suspect and recovery of the vehicle”.

“Further search conducted on the suspect led to the recovery of one locally made cut-to-size double-barrel gun loaded with one live cartridge, one dummy Beretta pistol, as well as the victim’s handbag containing her mobile phones and personal belongings”.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a member of the criminal syndicate linked to the robbery and car-snatching of another victim’s Toyota Venza around Immaculate Street, Aba, on August 18, 2026”.

“The suspect has made useful confessional statements in admission of the crimes, while discreet investigation is ongoing”.

He said the operation led to the rescue of the kidnap victim, Dr. Ikenna Ilo, male 44 years, who was abducted on August 19, 2026.

“The Command received a report that a medical doctor was abducted by armed hoodlums and forced into his vehicle, after which the perpetrators fled the area”.

“Leveraging actionable intelligence, operatives of the Command were immediately deployed, and the movement of the vehicle was traced towards Imo State, prompting collaboration with the Imo State Police Command”.

“Following sustained and coordinated efforts by the police, the victim was released unharmed in the early hours of August 20, 2026”.

“Three other suspects who were involved in the dismantling of the tracker in the vehicle and the POS operators who received ransom are in our custody as investigation is ongoing and efforts intensified to identify, apprehend and dismantle other members of the criminal syndicate”.