Police Advise Relatives Of The Alleged Kidnapping Of Fishermen In Anambra To Provide Proof.

The Anambra State Police Command has issued an invitation to the relatives of the victims to come forward and provide the necessary information, stating that it is aware of the media reports that are currently trending regarding the alleged incident of nine fishermen being kidnapped in the state.

In a statement released yesterday, State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Tochukwu Ikenga, stated that if the story is accurate, this will assist the police in initiating investigations and making decisions regarding security deployment and strategy to prevent recurrence.

Ikenga expressed shock that a case of such magnitude trending online had no connection to any state police formation, even though the command would not want to get into a dispute with anyone over the matter.

He also mentioned the answers he received from people and parties he considered to be interested. Nevertheless, he went on to say that the command is unmoved by these statements and that it is ready to dispatch investigative teams and work with any interested parties to help with a possible rescue.

“The public should get in touch with the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) or the Command Control Room, especially if they have any eyewitness accounts or other important information about the safety of people and property. The command reaffirms that it will carry out its mandate in this regard.

The fishermen left Ibbi in Taraba State on Monday of last week in a 24-seater bus with their relatives for a fishing excursion in the River Niger. Some media outlets claim that they were stopped by people who appeared to be sit-at-home enforcers in Anambra State.

Four of the fishermen are reported to have been killed after their captors demanded a ransom from their families, following the kidnapping of nine of the fishermen.