Police in Enugu have rescued 28 kidnapped victims, arrested ten male suspects, and recovered firearms, ammunition, cash, vehicles, motorcycles, and other exhibits in coordinated operations around the State.
According to a statement by the command’s PRO, SP Ndukwe Daniel, police operatives in Umumba division, working with the Neighbourhood Watch, Forest Guards, and community members rescued two male and two female victims kidnapped along Umumba-Ndiuno-Aguoba Road in Ezeagu Local Government Area.
The team also arrested four male suspects involved in the crime.He stated that on the same day, operatives from 9th Mile Division in response to a distress call rescued and rearrested a yet-to-be identified male suspect from a violent mob.
“The suspect and three others had attempted to kidnap a woman, who raised an alarm and was abandoned by the suspects.”
“Similarly, operatives from Okpuje Police Division of the Command, in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch and Forest Guards, on May 17, 2025, carried out a strategic bush-combing operation in a forest bordering Okpuje in Enugu State and Odolu in Kogi State.
During the operation, they intercepted two men found with ₦150,000.00 and ₦70,000.00 respectively, intended for ransom payments, as well as loaves of bread and drinks menacingly requested by the kidnappers.
“Upon further incursion, the team encountered armed resistance from the kidnappers but responded with superior firepower, forcing them to flee with gunshot wounds and abandon the victims, a pump-action gun, and two live cartridges.
The victims were rescued unhurt and the exhibits recovered.”Ndukwe added that on May 14, 2025, operatives from Igbo-Eze North Division, with the Military and Neighbourhood Watch, “rescued 21 kidnapped victims in Amaka-Okpodu community in Kogi State.
The victims, some of whom were returning from a traditional marriage ceremony, had been allegedly abducted on May 10, 2025, along Iyionu-Aguibeje Road in Igbo-Eze North LGA by hooded armed men.
Five male suspects were subsequently arrested following credible intelligence, and three firearms were also recovered.
Similarly, a minibus and four motorcycles used by the travelling victims were earlier recovered from the scene of the crime.
”The spokesman further disclosed that on May 13, 2025, “operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad rescued a kidnapped victim along the Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway and recovered his Toyota Camry.
A white Toyota Corolla with registration number ENU 703 LP used by the suspects and a Lexus 330 Jeep abandoned at the kidnapping scene in Premier Layout, Independence Layout, Enugu, were also recovered.”
