Enugu State Police Command has arrested 14 suspected members of kidnapping syndicates linked to a string of abductions and a murder in the state, Commissioner of Police Mamman Bitrus Giwa announced Friday during a briefing at the State Police Headquarters in GRA, Enugu.
Giwa said the arrests followed intelligence-led operations carried out by command operatives in collaboration with other security agencies. He described the suspects as members of an organized criminal network operating across state lines, with some converging in Enugu to plan and execute kidnappings before returning to their bases. The operations also led to the rescue of kidnapped victims and the recovery of firearms, ammunition, and other incriminating items.
The commissioner recalled recent rescues at Ogbozara Community in Nsukka Local Government Area and Owukpa Community in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State. He added that following the August 2 rescue of a victim abducted from a church at Inoyi, Affa Community in Udi Local Government Area, joint operations resulted in the rescue of two more victims, the arrest of three suspects, and the neutralization of another. Ransom money, firearms, and ammunition were recovered during that operation.
Giwa said preliminary investigations revealed the suspects later regrouped in Port Harcourt and abducted another victim who was released after a N5 million ransom payment. He disclosed that 12 other suspects had earlier been arrested through human and technical intelligence-led operations in Abuja, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kwara, and Taraba states.
Investigations showed the suspects belonged to a structured network with assigned roles. An Enugu-based tricycle operator allegedly provided transportation for gang members, firearms, and criminal implements, while another suspect supplied intelligence to evade surveillance and identify targets.
The suspects confessed to involvement in recent and past kidnappings along the Enugu–Ugwuogo–Opi–Nsukka Road; Obioma–9th Mile–Umulumgbe–Okpatu Road; Eke–Affa–Egede–Ezinze axis; and various locations in Ezeagu Local Government Area.
Specific incidents linked to the group include the May 25, 2026 abduction of a male victim at Mgbabuowa/Aguobuowa in Ezeagu LGA, for which N5.5 million ransom was reportedly paid. They are also linked to the May 9 abduction of two male victims and the shooting death of a female victim at Obioma in Udi LGA, where $28,700 was allegedly obtained. Other cases include the April 10 abduction of two males along the Eke–Ezinze Road in Udi LGA with a reported $70,000 ransom, and the April 12 kidnapping of seven victims at Obinaofia, Ezeagu LGA, where N25 million was allegedly collected.
Giwa said investigations indicated the suspects concealed and laundered proceeds through livestock and property investments, lavish spending, and overseas trips, including visits to Cameroon. Recovered items include five AK-47 rifles, two pump-action guns, one locally fabricated firearm, 310 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, eight live cartridges, and seven empty AK-47 magazines.
Investigations are ongoing to establish links to other kidnapping and violent crimes within and outside Enugu State, identify and arrest additional syndicate members, and recover more firearms and criminal proceeds. The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
The commissioner attributed the breakthroughs to sustained intelligence gathering, ICT-enabled investigations, inter-agency collaboration, inter-state cooperation, and coordinated operational policing. He assured residents of the command’s commitment to combating kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, rape, cultism, and other violent crimes, urging the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons and activities.
