On October 17, 2024, officers from the Enugu State Police Command launched a significant operation against kidnapping in the Nokpa-Nike area of Enugu East Local Government. Acting on carefully gathered intelligence, the police Anti-Kidnapping, Distress Response, and Special Intervention Squads stormed the hideout of a notorious criminal group around 8 p.m.
Upon arrival, the police were met with heavy gunfire from the suspects, leading to a fierce exchange of bullets. In the ensuing firefight, two kidnappers were shot and killed, while others managed to escape despite sustaining gunshot wounds. A manhunt for the remaining members of the syndicate has been initiated, with police continuing their efforts to apprehend them.
According to a press statement released on Friday, October 18, 2024, by the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the operation also led to the rescue of a male victim. The victim, who is reported to be the personal assistant to a prominent figure (whose identity has not been disclosed), had been abducted on September 27, 2024, in the Trans-Ekulu area of Enugu. He was rescued unharmed.
During the raid, police officers recovered a significant cache of weapons, including one G-3 rifle, two AK-47 rifles, three magazines, and 125 rounds of live ammunition. Initial investigations revealed that the criminal gang had demanded a ransom of forty million naira (N40,000,000.00) for the release of their victim. The group is also linked to several other kidnappings within Enugu and its surrounding areas. Some members of the syndicate have previously been arrested and charged in court, with weapons and ammunition also seized in earlier operations.
In a related development, the Enugu State government has demolished the structures used by the criminals, including the current hideout raided by the police.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, praised the bravery of the operatives involved in the operation and reaffirmed the police force’s determination to stamp out violent crime in the state. He urged citizens to remain vigilant, law-abiding, and supportive of police efforts to ensure the safety and security of Enugu.
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