Police Burst Kidnap Gangs, Arrest 5, Recover ₦10m Others In Enugu 

The Enugu State Police Command has recorded a series of major breakthroughs in its intensified crackdown on kidnapping and other violent crimes, with five suspects arrested, a kidnapped victim rescued, and high-powered weapons and ₦10 million in ransom money recovered during multiple operations.

Spokesperson for the Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed in a statement on Thursday that the successful operations, which spanned from July 5 to 16, 2025, were carried out by various tactical squads in synergy with community security outfits, including the Neighbourhood Watch, Forest Guards, and local hunters.

According to the release, on July 16, at about 3:00 p.m., police operatives attached to the Okpuje Division, acting on a distress call, stormed a forest in Okpuje-Ani community, Nsukka Local Government Area, where a group of armed kidnappers had been sighted. The hoodlums opened fire on the approaching team, prompting a swift counterattack that led to the death of one of the suspects. The team recovered an AK-47 rifle loaded with two live rounds of ammunition from the neutralised suspect, while others fled.

Barely an hour later, another milestone was recorded when the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad, relying on actionable intelligence, arrested one Aliyu Adamu, 23, at Ugwu-Onyeama, along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. Adamu, during interrogation, reportedly confessed to being part of a kidnapping syndicate and revealed that he was recruited from Awka, Anambra State, by an accomplice now on the run.

In a related development on July 15, the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad apprehended two female suspects – Juliet Chukwu, 39, and Nancy Chukwu, 40 – who were caught sharing ₦10 million ransom allegedly collected from their kinsman after a failed kidnap plot. The sisters, who claimed to be law enforcement officers, were arrested a day after the botched abduction. The kidnapped victim was rescued unhurt, and a Toyota Corolla vehicle, along with the entire ransom sum, was recovered.

Earlier on July 5, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad arrested two male suspects – Usman Musa, 20, and Musa Zaria, 24 – from Kogi State. They were apprehended during a tactical operation in the Okemmou area of 9th Mile, Udi LGA. Items belonging to two male kidnap victims abducted on July 4 – including clothing and a wristwatch – were recovered from the suspects, who were later positively identified by the victims.

SP Ndukwe stated that all arrested suspects will be arraigned upon the conclusion of ongoing investigations, while efforts are being intensified to apprehend fleeing members of the various syndicates.

Reacting to the operations, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the courage and professionalism of the officers involved. He assured residents of the Command’s unwavering resolve to rid Enugu of criminal elements and maintain public safety across all communities.

“These operations underscore our dedication to responding swiftly to threats and ensuring justice for victims of crime. We will not rest until Enugu is completely free of these predators,” CP Giwa said.

Recall that the state governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, had in the recent past issued a firm directive to all security agencies to flush out criminal elements from every inch of the state’s territory, ensuring that Enugu maintains its status as the safest and most peaceful state in the region.

The governor, who reiterated that his administration would continue to mobilise every resource necessary to support law enforcement and make the state a fortress against crime, also declared unequivocally that criminals, kidnappers, and their sponsors have no hiding place in Enugu State, adding that the government remains resolute in its mission to make the state perpetually unsafe for hoodlums, felons, and all those who threaten the peace and security of law-abiding citizens.

Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and continue to partner with the security operatives by providing timely and credible information that will aid security operations across the state.