By Tony Adibe
Enugu State Police Command said that its operatives have arrested 26 suspects for several kidnappings murder and recovered a total of 325 different kinds of arms and ammunition.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mamman Giwa, disclosed on Friday during a press briefing at the Command’s Headquarters, GRA, Enugu, that the police had arrested 26 suspects within the period under review.
Giwa said that the recovered arms and ammunition included: Five (5) AK-47 rifles, two (2) pump-action guns, one (1) locally fabricated firearm, three hundred and ten (310) rounds of live 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, eight (8) live cartridges and seven (7) AK-47 empty magazines.
Giving account of the incidents, Giwa said that security operatives rescued kidnapped victims at Ogbozara community in Nsukka LGA and Owukpa Community in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State, with several exhibits, including live ammunition, recovered.
Giwa also spoke on the latest incident involving a Church at Inoyi, Affa Community, Udi LGA. Giwa said the victims were rescued on 2nd August 2026.
The Commissioner said: “Further joint, intelligence-led operations subsequently led to the rescue of the remaining two victims, the arrest of three suspects, the neutralisation of one suspect, and the recovery of ransom money, firearms, ammunition and other incriminating exhibits.
“Further intelligence-led operations by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Violent Crime Response Unit (AK-VCRU) led to the arrest of two additional male suspects linked to the Affa Church kidnapping”.
According to him, the duo, who escaped to Port Harcourt following the operational pressure mounted by joint security operatives, were traced and arrested in Port Harcourt and brought back to Enugu.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that, after fleeing Enugu, the suspects regrouped with their cohorts in Port Harcourt and abducted another victim, who was released after a ransom of N5,000,000.00 was paid,” he said.
Giwa further said that in furtherance of the Command’s sustained offensive against kidnapping and other violent crimes, twelve (12) additional suspects were earlier arrested through human and technical intelligence-led operations conducted in different parts of the country.
He said that the suspects were arrested on various dates in June, July and August 2026 in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kwara and Taraba States.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspects are members of an organised criminal network operating from different parts of the country.
Giwa said: “They converge in Enugu State to plan and execute kidnapping operations before returning to their respective locations.
“The network is aided by an Enugu-based member who operates a tricycle and provides transportation for the gang members, their firearms, and other criminal implements to and from operational locations. Another Enugu-based member provides intelligence that enables the gang to evade security surveillance and identify suitable targets and locations.”
Giwa further assured residents of the state of the Command’s commitment to making the state uncomfortable for unrepentant criminal elements who try to infiltrate the state to commit crimes. “Enugu will not be a haven for any criminal element,” he reassured.
