Anambra State security forces have widened a manhunt after joint patrols recovered 16-year-old Favour Ayogu, prompting intensified, intelligence-led activity aimed at locating those alleged to be responsible. Authorities say officers intercepted the boy on the evening of 13 September 2026 at Ekene Junction, along Oguta Road in Onitsha.
The command reports the teenager had been taken in Igboeze South Local Government Area of Enugu State before being abandoned near a security checkpoint in Onitsha. Police say unidentified persons removed him from a black Toyota Highlander SUV and later left him close to the checkpoint where joint patrols found him.
In a press statement from the Anambra State Police Command, Public Relations Officer Tochukwu Ikenga described the sequence of events and the operational response. "The swift response of the joint patrol team led to the boy’s rescue and prevented further harm," the statement said.
Following the recovery, the command says it has intensified efforts to apprehend a suspected criminal gang linked to the incident. Officials report an increase in surveillance and the deployment of intelligence measures to identify, trace and arrest those involved, concentrating activity around checkpoints and major road junctions.
Police have appealed for help to reunite the rescued teenager with his family in Enugu State. The command specifically asked residents of Igboeze South and Ibagwa-Aka to provide information that could assist the investigation and urged anyone with relevant details to contact the nearest police station or the Anambra State Police Command.
The rescue and the follow-up measures underline a stepped-up operational posture by joint security teams across the state, and signal that authorities will maintain heightened presence on key roads while the manhunt continues.
