Police operatives in Enugu have foiled suspected kidnapping activities in Igbo-Eze North following an intelligence-led forest raid that led to the recovery of sophisticated firearms, magazines, ammunition, and a motorcycle abandoned by fleeing suspects.
The operation, carried out by operatives attached to the Igbo-Eze North Division of the Enugu State Police Command, took place on May 17, 2026, at about 7:40 p.m., within a forest located along the Amufie–Obollo-Afor boundary in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the state.
According to a statement issued by Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the raid was in line with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Giwa, to sustain intelligence-driven offensives against criminal hideouts and black spots across the state.
Ndukwe said the operatives encountered armed hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers during the operation, adding that the criminals opened fire on sighting the police team.
“The police operatives, however, responded with superior firepower, effectively repelling the criminals and forcing them to flee into the surrounding bushes with varying degrees of gunshot wounds,” he stated.
He disclosed that a thorough search of the hideout conducted after the gun duel led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, four AK-47 magazines, sixty-four rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, one red TVS Neo-NX motorcycle, and other incriminating exhibits linked to the suspected criminal gang.
“The operation followed credible intelligence and ongoing efforts by the command to identify, raid, and dismantle criminal camps and operational bases used by kidnappers and other violent offenders terrorizing residents of the state,” Ndukwe said.
He further noted that the Commissioner of Police had directed sustained operational and investigative actions aimed at tracking down the fleeing suspects and dismantling the wider criminal network connected to the hideout.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Giwa, has ordered sustained operational and investigative efforts to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects,” the statement added.
Reaffirming the Command’s resolve to tackle violent crimes, Ndukwe said the Enugu State Police Command remained unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
“The Enugu State Police Command remains resolute in its commitment to cracking down on violent criminals and dismantling their networks across the state,” he stated.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information capable of preventing crimes and aiding ongoing security operations.
“We urge citizens to remain law-abiding, vigilant, and supportive of the police by providing credible information that will aid crime prevention and crime-fighting efforts in Enugu State,” Ndukwe added.
