Enugu Police Rescue 21 Another Kidnap Victims in Statewide Operations, Neutralize Suspect and Recover Arms
In a remarkable continuation of its intensified fight against kidnapping and violent crime, the Enugu State Police Command has rescued another 21 kidnapped victims in a series of coordinated operations across the state. This comes less than four days after a previous operation led to the rescue of 28 victims and the arrest of 10 suspects.
The latest operations also resulted in the death of one suspected kidnapper, the arrest of another, and the recovery of a firearm, a vehicle, and other incriminating materials.
According to a statement issued over the weekend by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the renewed offensive was initiated following a directive from the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, psc, who ordered a robust crackdown on kidnapping and related crimes across the state.
- May 23, 2025: Police operatives from the Okpuje Division, in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch groups, Forest Guards, and local hunters, launched a raid on a forested area along the Enugu-Kogi border. The operation led to the rescue of eight kidnapped victims who were found unharmed. A fierce exchange of gunfire resulted in the death of one suspected kidnapper, while others fled with gunshot wounds. Several items linked to the criminal gang were recovered at the scene, and efforts to track the fleeing suspects are ongoing.
- May 22, 2025: A joint security team, led by the Oji-River Police Area Commander, carried out a rescue operation in the Uvuru-Ukpata forest located in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area. Nine victims, who had been kidnapped along the Olo-Umulokpa Road a day earlier, were successfully rescued. The kidnappers fled following an exchange of gunfire. The rescued individuals received medical attention and were subsequently reunited with their families. On the same day, operatives from the 9th Mile Division responded swiftly to a distress call at Ekochin Layout in Udi LGA, where they successfully foiled an armed robbery attempt. A locally fabricated cut-to-size single-barrel firearm and an expended cartridge were recovered from the scene. Although the suspects escaped, a manhunt is currently underway.
- May 21, 2025: Officers from the Udenu Police Division, working in partnership with Forest Guards and members of the Neighbourhood Watch, rescued two men from a forest in Amalla-Egazi. The victims had been kidnapped on May 16 in the Ezimo community, Udenu LGA. In a separate operation on the same day, operatives from Uwani Police Division rescued a female kidnap victim and recovered her Toyota Sienna vehicle at Gariki, Awkunanaw, Enugu. The suspects fled the scene on sighting the police, and efforts to apprehend them are ongoing.
- May 20, 2025: In yet another operation, personnel from the Awkunanaw Police Division, assisted by Neighbourhood Watch members, rescued a man who had been abducted the previous day. He was discovered tied up in an uncompleted building in Akwuke-Awkunanaw, Enugu South LGA. Before his rescue, his captors had extorted ₦30,000 from his relatives. One male suspect was arrested, while a search is ongoing to apprehend his accomplices.
Commending the efforts of the officers and the community-based security partners, CP Mamman Giwa praised their bravery, dedication, and cooperation, which he described as instrumental to the success of the operations.
He further directed all supervisory officers within the command to sustain proactive, intelligence-led policing strategies. The Commissioner also called on residents of Enugu State to continue supporting law enforcement agencies by providing timely and credible information to enhance public safety and security.