Police parade 14 kidnap suspects, recover 5 AK-47 rifles, 310 rounds in Enugu

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By Chinedu Adonu

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ENUGU — The Enugu State Police Command has paraded 14 suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate allegedly linked to several kidnapping operations and a murder case across the state.

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The Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing at the Command headquarters, GRA, Enugu, saying the suspects were arrested through intelligence-led operations conducted across several states.

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Giwa said the operations led to the recovery of five AK-47 rifles, two pump-action guns, one locally fabricated firearm, 310 rounds of live 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, eight cartridges and seven empty AK-47 magazines.

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He said two of the suspects allegedly involved in the kidnapping of worshippers at a church in Inoyi, Affa community, Udi Local Government Area, fled to Port Harcourt but were subsequently traced and arrested.

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According to him, preliminary investigations showed that after fleeing Enugu, the suspects regrouped with their associates in Port Harcourt and kidnapped another victim, who was released after a N5 million ransom was paid.

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The CP said the 14 suspects were linked to a wider criminal network operating across different parts of the country, with members converging in Enugu to plan and execute kidnapping operations before returning to their respective locations.

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“The suspects had confessed to involvement in several kidnapping incidents along the Enugu-Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka Road, Obioma-9th Mile-Umulumgbe-Ukpatu axis, Eke-Affa-Egede-Ezinze axis and other locations in Ezeagu Local Government Area,” the CP said.

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Giwa disclosed that the suspects had been linked to the abduction of a man at Mgbabuowa/Aguobuowa, Ezeagu, on May 25, 2026, for which N5.5 million ransom was allegedly collected.

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He added that the gang was also linked to the abduction of two men and the shooting and killing of a woman at Obioma, Udi, on May 9, during which $28,700 was allegedly obtained as ransom.

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The suspects were further linked to the abduction of two victims along the Eke-Ezinze Road, Udi, on April 10, for which $70,000 was allegedly paid as ransom, as well as the kidnapping of seven victims at Obinaofia, Ezeagu, on April 12, for which N25 million was allegedly collected.

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The police boss said investigations further revealed that proceeds from the alleged criminal activities were laundered through investments in livestock and properties, lavish spending and overseas trips.

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“The arrests and recoveries are a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of sustained intelligence gathering, ICT-enabled investigation, inter-agency collaboration, inter-state cooperation and coordinated operational policing adopted by the Command,” Giwa said.

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He said investigations were ongoing to identify other members of the syndicate, recover more firearms and criminal proceeds, and establish the suspects’ involvement in other kidnapping and violent-crime cases within and outside Enugu State.

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Giwa assured residents that the Command would sustain its offensive against kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, cultism and other violent crimes.

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“We will continue to make Enugu State increasingly unconducive to unrepentant local criminals, criminal elements seeking to infiltrate the State, and their activities,” he said.

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He appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant and to provide the police with timely information on suspicious persons, movements and activities.

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“I therefore urge residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements and activities through established Police channels,” he said.

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Giwa also commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, and other security agencies for their support and collaboration in the fight against crime.

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