The Anambra State Police Command has apprehended six individuals suspected of exploiting terminally ill persons by using them to solicit alms from unsuspecting members of the public. The arrest was made following a raid on an uncompleted building located at Isu Village in Oba, within the Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the spokesperson of the command, Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that the operation was carried out on April 16 at about 6:30 p.m. by a combined team of officers from the Oba Divisional Police Headquarters and operatives of the Anambra Vigilante Group. According to the statement, the suspects were discovered in the building alongside individuals with severe health conditions, whom they had allegedly hired and used to attract sympathy and financial donations from the public.
The arrested suspects have been identified as Doris Basil, a 28-year-old female; Peter Ezedike, 38; Susan Monday, 27; Ogechi Okoro, 27; Solomon Sunday, 29; and Kenneth Achi, also 29 years old. During the operation, security operatives recovered six mobile phones and a total sum of ₦82,400 in various denominations, including ₦50, ₦100, and ₦200 notes.
Among those rescued were four visibly ill individuals suffering from grave medical conditions, including brain tumours and breast cancer. These victims, believed to have been used by the suspects for alms-seeking schemes, were immediately taken into protective custody. The police also administered initial medical care and have since sought professional intervention to ensure the victims receive proper treatment and are safely reunited with their families.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, reacting to the development, described the incident as a disturbing reflection of moral degradation within society. He cited Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, which criminalises obtaining property by false pretence—a felony that carries a sentence of up to three years in prison. The CP expressed deep concern over the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for selfish monetary gain and assured the public that justice would be served.
As part of ongoing investigations, the police chief directed the immediate interrogation of the families and guardians of the ill persons to determine their knowledge or involvement in the illicit operation. He further stated that all suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are concluded.
The Anambra State Police Command has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that the state remains a safe and just society for all, warning that anyone found engaging in fraudulent or exploitative acts, particularly those targeting the weak and sick, will face the full wrath of the law.