A kidnapped woman has been freed in Anambra State following a fierce gun battle between security forces and suspected kidnappers. The incident occurred late Saturday night in the Amaokpala area of Aguata, within the Orumba Local Government Area.
According to information gathered on Sunday, the shootout lasted over an hour before calm was restored to the community.
The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development in a statement. He said the operation was carried out by a joint security team led by the police from the Forward Operating Base in Aguata during a routine night patrol.
“On the night of July 12, 2025, our operatives, while on a visibility patrol at Amaokpala, encountered a gang of armed men and immediately came under attack. The officers responded swiftly, engaging the attackers in a gunfight,” Ikenga stated.
During the operation, a 26-year-old woman who had been abducted was rescued. One of the suspects was shot during the exchange and later died at the hospital. His body has been deposited in the mortuary.
Recovered from the scene were one pump-action rifle, 11 live cartridges, a Toyota Camry (ash-coloured) with registration number Lagos EPE-208-FK, a police belt, a carton of Chelsea alcoholic sachets, a Zenith Bank ATM card, an axe, a small Tecno phone, a pack of cigarettes, charms, and N2,700 in cash.
Ikenga said the attackers had opened fire on the patrol team, prompting a tactical response that led to the shootout.
He noted that the rescued victim has received medical treatment and will soon be reunited with her family.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, praised the officers for their bravery and reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to rid the state of criminal elements.
