The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a suspected cultist accused of involvement in a brutal murder and a string of abductions within a local community.

The suspect, identified as Chinedu Okeke, was apprehended following an intensive manhunt coordinated by the command’s Anti-Cultism and Kidnap Squad. Okeke is alleged to have masterminded the killing of a community leader and the subsequent kidnapping of two residents in separate incidents last month.

According to Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the suspect was tracked down in a hideout in Awka and taken into custody without resistance.

“We have strong evidence linking the suspect to these heinous crimes,” DSP Ikenga said. “Our investigation is ongoing, and we will ensure that justice is served.”

Community members have expressed relief over the arrest, highlighting a recent surge in cult-related violence that has heightened fears across several towns in the state.

The police have urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing timely information to curb the menace.

The suspect is currently being held at the state Criminal Investigation Department, and charges of murder, kidnapping, and cultism are expected to be formally filed soon.