…operation forms part of ongoing efforts to curb criminal activities linked to motorcycle snatching in Anambra.
Awka, Nigeria — The iNews Times | Motorcycle snatching syndicate in Anambra has been dismantled following the arrest of a 22-year-old woman and four other suspected members of a robbery gang accused of targeting commercial motorcyclists in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.
The Anambra State Police Command said the suspects specialised in deceiving unsuspecting motorcycle operators, popularly known as okada riders, by using a female member of the gang to lure victims to isolated locations where they were attacked and dispossessed of their motorcycles and personal belongings.
The Command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this on Tuesday, stating that the suspects were apprehended during a coordinated operation by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, acting on credible intelligence.
According to him, the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to curb criminal activities linked to motorcycle snatching, particularly in areas where commercial transport operators are frequently targeted.
Ikenga identified the suspects as Sunday Chukwudebele (male), aged 22; Adaobi Udeze (female), aged 26; Chimezie Ifebi (male), aged 35; Kelvin Chukwuejike (male), aged 28; and Uzi Chukwuejike Williams Umeh (male), aged 26.
He said items recovered from the suspects include one locally made Beretta pistol, three Qlink motorcycles (150 Tiger model) suspected to have been stolen, and a red-coloured face mask believed to have been used during their operations.
Providing further insight into the gang’s activities, Ikenga said the female suspect played a strategic and recurring role in executing the group’s plans.
“Anambra State Police Command operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, in the early hours of March 24, 2026, arrested a five-member gang, including a female suspect who specialises in luring unsuspecting commercial motorcyclists for robbery operations in Ihiala,” he said.
He added, “Preliminary investigations reveal that the female suspect plays a strategic role in the gang’s operations by posing as a passenger and deceiving motorcycle transporters to isolated locations, where other gang members attack and dispossess them of their motorcycles and valuables.”
Security observers note that such tactics reflect evolving patterns among criminal groups, with syndicates increasingly deploying deceptive methods to target vulnerable road users.
The police said investigations are ongoing to identify other members of the network and recover additional motorcycles believed to have been stolen by the gang.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, commended the operatives for their swift response, describing the arrests as a significant breakthrough in the fight against organised crime.
He reiterated the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of residents and restoring confidence among commercial transport operators who have been affected by rising incidents of motorcycle-related robberies.
The police boss also urged members of the public, particularly okada riders, to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or passengers to the nearest police station.
According to him, community cooperation remains crucial in tackling crimes linked to motorcycle snatching, as intelligence from residents often plays a key role in successful operations.
Residents in parts of Ihiala and surrounding communities have in recent times raised concerns over attacks on commercial motorcyclists, with many calling for intensified security patrols and stricter monitoring of suspicious activities.
The latest arrests are expected to serve as a deterrent to other criminal groups operating within the state, while also reinforcing the police command’s ongoing crackdown on organised crime.
Authorities say the suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
