Police Parade 14 Suspected Kidnappers In Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command has paraded 14 male suspects linked to different kidnapping syndicates operating across State lines and implicated in multiple kidnapping incidents and a murder case in the state.

Parading the suspects, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Bitrus Giwa recalled that the command had at various times and locations, rescued kidnapped victims, arrested and, in some instances, neutralised kidnapping suspects, while recovering firearms, ammunition and other incriminating exhibits.

He stated that recently, in separate joint operations, 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.

The commissioner disclosed that most recently, one of the victims abducted from a church at Inoyi, Affa Community, Udi LGA, was rescued on 2nd August, 2026.

He added that 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.

He stated that 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.

He told journalists that the duo, who fled to Port Harcourt following the operational pressure mounted by joint security operatives, were traced and arrested in Port Harcourt and brought back to Enugu.

Commissioner Giwa added that preliminary investigation revealed 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.In furtherance of the Command’s sustained offensive against kidnapping and other violent crimes.

He continued that twelve (12) additional suspects were earlier arrested through human and technical intelligence-led operations conducted in different parts of the country.

“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. 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.

“The suspects have, during interrogation, confessed to involvement in several recent and past kidnapping incidents across Enugu State, including along the Enugu-Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka Road; Obioma-9th Mile-Umulumgbe-Okpatu Road; Eke-Affa-Egede-Ezinze axis; and various locations in Ezeagu LGA. Specifically, preliminary investigation has linked the suspects to the following armed kidnapping incidents: The abduction of a male victim at Mgbabuowa/Aguobuowa, Ezeagu LGA, on 25th May, 2026, during which ₦5.5 million was obtained as ransom. The abduction of two male victims and the shooting and murder of a female victim at Obioma, Udi LGA, on 9th May, 2026, during which the gang obtained $28,700 as ransom.

“The abduction of two male victims along the Eke–Ezinze Road, Udi LGA, on 10th April, 2026, for which $70,000 was obtained as ransom. The kidnapping of seven victims at Obinaofia, Ezeagu LGA, on 12th April, 2026, during which ₦25,000,000 was obtained as ransom,” he stated.

The commissioner disclosed that 5 AK-47 rifles; 2 pump-action guns; 1 locally fabricated firearm; 310) rounds of live 7.62 x 39mm ammunition; 8 live cartridges; and 7 AK-47 empty magazines were recovered during the operations..