The Enugu State Police Command has successfully rescued 21 kidnapped victims, neutralized one suspect, arrested another, and recovered a firearm and other exhibits in multiple intelligence-driven operations across the state.
According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the operations were executed in response to the directive of Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, who ordered intensified efforts against kidnapping and other violent crimes.
In one of the major operations on May 23, police operatives from the Okpuje Division, working in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch personnel, Forest Guards, and local hunters, raided a forest along the Enugu-Kogi border. Eight victims were rescued unhurt following a gun battle, during which one suspect was neutralized. Others fled with injuries, and efforts to apprehend them are ongoing. Several exhibits were recovered at the scene.
Earlier on May 22, a team led by the Oji-River Area Commander rescued nine kidnap victims from Uvuru-Ukpata forest in Uzo-Uwani LGA. The victims had been abducted along the Olo-Umulokpa Road. The suspects escaped after an exchange of gunfire, and the rescued individuals were treated and reunited with their families.
That same day, operatives from the 9th Mile Division foiled an armed robbery attempt in Ekochin Layout, Udi LGA. A cut-to-size single-barrel gun and an expended cartridge were recovered, though the suspects managed to escape.
On May 21, operatives from Udenu Division, alongside Forest Guards and local security groups, rescued two men abducted on May 16 from the Ezimo community. Separately, police from Uwani Division rescued a female victim and recovered her stolen Toyota Sienna at Gariki, Awkunanaw.
In another operation on May 20, officers from Awkunanaw Division rescued a kidnapped man from an uncompleted building in Akwuke-Awkunanaw. The captors had extorted ₦30,000 from his family before his rescue. One suspect was arrested, while a manhunt continues for the others.
CP Giwa commended the commitment of police personnel, community members, and local security outfits whose collaboration led to these results. He also directed senior officers to sustain proactive and intelligence-led policing efforts and called on the public to maintain their support for security agencies.