Police Rescue 28 Kidnap Victims, Arrest 10 Suspects In Enugu

Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command, alongside with other security agencies have rescued twenty-eight (28) kidnap victims in Enugu.

Operatives also arrested ten (10) suspects, all males, and recovered firearms, ammunitions, cash, vehicles, motorcycles, and other exhibits in multiple coordinated operations.

Some of the kidnapped persons were rescued by operatives attached to Umumba Police Division on May 17, 2025 in collaboration with the Neighbourhood Watch, Forest Guards, and community members and operatives from the 9th Mike Division.

On the same day, operatives at 9th Mile Division swiftly responded to a distress call where they rescued and rearrested a yet-to-be identified male suspect from a violent mob.

The suspect and three others had attempted to kidnap a woman, who raised an alarm and was abandoned by the suspects.

The rearrested suspect, who was severely beaten by the mob, was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Spokesman of the Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe, who confirmed the arrest, disclosed that security operatives from Okpuje Police Division, in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch and Forest Guards carried out a strategic bush-combing operation in a forest bordering Okpuje in Enugu State and Odolu in Kogi State.

Ndukwe stated that police intercepted two men found with ₦150,000 and ₦70,000 intended for ransom payments, as well as loaves of bread and drinks requested by the kidnappers.

He said upon further incursion, the team encountered resistance from the kidnappers but responded with superior firepower, forcing them to flee with gunshot injuries and abandoned the victims, a pump-action gun, and two live cartridges.

Ndukwe disclosed further that the victims were rescued unhurt and the exhibits recovered, adding that efforts to track down the fleeing suspects were ongoing.

“Earlier, on May 14, 2025, at about 5:30 a.m., operatives from Igbo-Eze North Division, with the military and Neighbourhood Watch, rescued 21 kidnapped victims in Amaka-Okpodu Community in Kogi State.

“The victims, some of whom were returning from a traditional marriage ceremony, had been allegedly abducted on May 10, 2025, along Iyionu-Aguibeje Road in Igbo-Eze North LGA by hooded armed men.

“Five male suspects were subsequently arrested following credible intelligence, and three firearms were also recovered. Additionally, a minibus and four motorcycles used by the travelling victims were earlier recovered from the scene of the crime.

“In another operation, on May 13, 2025, at about 9:45 p.m., operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad, acting on credible information, rescued a kidnapped victim along the Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway and recovered his Toyota Camry.

“A white Toyota Corolla with registration number ENU 703 LP used by the suspects and a Lexus 330 Jeep abandoned at the kidnapping scene in Premier Layout, Independence Layout, Enugu, were also recovered. Operations to hunt down the fleeing suspects are ongoing,” he stated.