ANAMBRA POLICE DENY DEMANDING ₦600,000 TO RELEASE WOMAN, SAY SHE HELPED WANTED BROTHER EVADE ARREST

The Anambra State Police Command has denied allegations that its officers demanded ₦600,000 to secure the release of a woman arrested during an investigation into cult-related killings in Awka, insisting that she was detained because she allegedly helped her wanted brother evade arrest.

The woman, identified as Nwosu Chikamso Jennifer, became the subject of a controversy after the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) accused the police of arresting her as a proxy for her brother, Nwosu Kenechukwu, who is reportedly wanted in connection with a murder investigation.

RULAAC had also alleged that Jennifer was detained on August 31, 2026, and that ₦600,000 was demanded as a condition for her release.

The allegations prompted the Anambra State Police Command to issue a detailed response, with its spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, rejecting both the claim that Jennifer was arrested merely because she was related to a wanted person and the allegation of financial extortion.

According to the police, Kenechukwu has emerged as a person of interest in investigations into several cult-related killings in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

The command said investigators later discovered that Jennifer became aware of attempts by police operatives to apprehend her brother and allegedly assisted him in avoiding arrest.

The police therefore maintained that her arrest was connected to her alleged conduct during the investigation and was not based simply on her biological relationship with Kenechukwu.

The command said the circumstances surrounding the arrest were therefore different from the account presented by RULAAC, arguing that police officers were acting within the scope of an ongoing criminal investigation.

The controversy comes against the backdrop of a series of violent incidents in Awka, including the killing of popular comedian and master of ceremonies Isaac Nwosu, popularly known as Aiza Nwosu.

Aiza Nwosu was reportedly shot dead in the Amaikwo area of Awka on August 30, while another unidentified man was killed in a separate shooting along Capital City Road in the Amaenyi area on the same day.

The police had previously said that three unidentified persons travelling in a silver-coloured Toyota Corolla were suspected of being responsible for the shootings and that efforts were ongoing to identify and apprehend those involved.

The investigation into the killings subsequently led police to identify Kenechukwu as a person of interest.

The police now allege that Jennifer became aware that officers were attempting to apprehend her brother and took steps to help him evade arrest.

SP Ikenga said her detention was therefore part of the investigation into alleged interference with the police effort to apprehend the suspect.

However, the command strongly rejected RULAAC’s claim that money was demanded for Jennifer’s release.

The police said neither ₦600,000 nor any other amount was requested as a condition for granting the woman her freedom.

According to the command, Jennifer was eventually granted bail under established police procedures after she agreed to cooperate with investigators and assist them in efforts to locate and apprehend her brother.

The police said Kenechukwu remains a person of interest in the ongoing investigation.

The command further argued that its commitment to fundamental rights and due process does not prevent officers from taking lawful investigative action against people reasonably suspected of helping wanted persons evade arrest.

The police also warned that investigations into serious criminal matters could be compromised if unverified allegations are circulated while detectives are still attempting to identify suspects and establish the circumstances surrounding violent crimes.

However, RULAAC has rejected the police explanation and maintained its concerns over the circumstances surrounding Jennifer’s detention.

The rights organisation’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, reportedly said he contacted SP Ikenga about 48 hours before the matter became public in an attempt to verify the family’s claims, but did not receive a response.

RULAAC also questioned why Jennifer was allegedly held for four days without being charged in court if the police believed she had committed an offence.

The organisation maintained that the police denial alone did not resolve the allegations and called for an independent investigation into the officers involved in Jennifer’s arrest and detention.

RULAAC further said Jennifer continued to maintain that money was paid to secure her release, directly contradicting the police version of events.

The rights group warned that if the Anambra State Police Command failed to conduct a transparent investigation, it would petition the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, for a broader review of the matter.

The competing accounts have therefore created a dispute over both the reason for Jennifer’s arrest and the circumstances surrounding her release.

While the police say she was lawfully detained because she allegedly assisted a wanted suspect to evade arrest, RULAAC maintains that she was effectively arrested as a proxy for her brother and that money was allegedly demanded before she could regain her freedom.

Neither the allegation that ₦600,000 was demanded nor the police’s counterclaim that Jennifer actively assisted her brother has been independently established in court.

The case also highlights the difficult balance between law-enforcement efforts to apprehend suspects and the protection of the rights of relatives and associates who may come into contact with an investigation.

Security agencies have the authority to investigate people suspected of obstructing criminal investigations, but allegations of unlawful detention or extortion require transparent examination, particularly when they involve claims against serving police officers.

The controversy is likely to attract further attention as investigations into the cult-related killings in Awka continue and authorities attempt to locate Kenechukwu.

The Anambra Police Command has said its priority remains identifying everyone connected to the killings and ensuring that anyone found culpable is brought before the appropriate authorities.

RULAAC, meanwhile, is demanding an independent examination of Jennifer’s arrest and the alleged payment, arguing that accountability must apply to law-enforcement officers as well as members of the public.

The development comes at a time when concerns over cult-related violence in Anambra continue to place pressure on security agencies to strengthen investigations while ensuring that arrests are carried out in accordance with the law.

For now, the two sides remain sharply divided over what happened to Jennifer and why she was arrested.

Street News Reporters will continue to monitor the investigation, including any response from the Inspector-General of Police, the Anambra State Police Command or RULAAC and any further developments concerning the search for Nwosu Kenechukwu.