Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Enugu State Police Command has arrested 14 suspected kidnappers and recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition during a series of intelligence-led operations targeting kidnapping syndicates operating within and outside the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, disclosed this during a briefing in Enugu, where he outlined recent successes recorded by the command against organised criminal groups.
According to him, the recovered exhibits include five AK-47 rifles, two pump-action guns, one locally fabricated firearm, 310 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, eight live cartridges and seven empty AK-47 magazines.
Giwa said security operatives also rescued kidnapped victims during separate operations in Ogbozara Community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State and Owukpa Community in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.
He explained that one of the victims abducted from a church in Inoyi, Affa Community, Udi Local Government Area, was rescued on August 2, while subsequent operations led to the rescue of other victims, the arrest of suspects and the recovery of ransom money, firearms and ammunition.
The police commissioner said two additional suspects linked to the church abduction were later traced to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where they had fled following security operations in Enugu.
According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects regrouped in Port Harcourt and were involved in another kidnapping for which a ransom of ₦5 million was paid before the victim was released.
Giwa further disclosed that 12 other suspects had earlier been arrested in coordinated operations conducted across the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and several states, including Kogi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kwara and Taraba.
Investigations, he said, showed that members of the criminal network operated from different parts of the country but frequently converged on Enugu to plan and execute kidnapping operations before returning to their respective bases.
“The suspects have, during interrogation, confessed to their involvement in several recent and past kidnap incidents across Enugu State, including along Enugu–Ugwuogo–Opi–Nsukka Road; Obioma–9th Mile–Umulumgbe–Okpatu Road; Eke–Affa–Egede–Ezinze axis; and various locations in Ezeagu LGA,” Giwa said.
He added that investigations were ongoing to identify other members of the syndicate, recover additional weapons and proceeds of crime, and ensure that all suspects are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
