The Police in Anambra say they have arrested five persons for alleged kidnap and rescued a victim at Okpoko, near Onitsha, in Anambra.

But a pro-Biafra group, the Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) instantly called for the release of the suspects, claiming that the arrested persons were not kidnappers but security guards.

SP Sunday Okpe, the Grand Commander, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in the state, said this in an interview with newsmen in Onitsha on Tuesday.

Okpe said that the suspects were arrested on April 2, following a tip-off.

“On April 2 morning, men of the FSARS stormed a major hideout of suspected kidnappers and rescued a victim.

“Five persons, who are members of a kidnap syndicate, were arrested and they are helping with the investigation.”

According to him, the hoodlums used the hideout which is a “no-go” area in Okpoko, as a detention camp for abducted victims.

But while disputing the claims of the Police, zonal leader of BIM) explained that the alleged hideout was the operational office of the group in the area.

“We do not know where they took our five members to; they took two of our motorcycles, ransacked our office and even invited the soldiers to help them kill us,’’ News Agency of Nigeria quoted him as saying.