Operatives of the Nigeria Police in Enugu have killed at least 30 alleged kidnappers, including members of the notorious Unknown Gunmen, the Enugu State government has said on Wednesday.
A statement released by the media office of the state governor, Peter Mbah, which included details from Police Superintendent (SP) Onochie Ezeh, who led the joint security operation described the group as a faction, which broke away from the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), that has been terrorising Enugu and its environs for months and allegedly loyal to Finland-based Nigerian, Simon Ekpa.
According to the reports in the statement by the senior police detective, they were killed during intense gun battles with security operatives at various locations across the state over the past two weeks.
The statement further indicated that some kidnapped victims were rescued along the Ugwuogo Nike-Opi Road in the early hours of Wednesday.
The statement noted that one of the operations happened at Ogbeke Nike, where a seven-man gang of kidnappers was neutralised.
The kidnappers were reportedly using a large poultry farm in the area to conceal their hostages, awaiting ransom payments.
SP Ezeh explained that the successful operation was part of a sustained effort by the police to dismantle criminal networks operating in Enugu and from neighbouring states.
“We have been on the trail of these kidnappers for more than three months now. They had been operating within this axis where they kidnapped their victims and kept them at a large poultry farm at Ogbeke Nike until ransoms were paid,” Ezeh said.
He added that the operation was initiated following a tip-off from vigilant members of the public and accounts from rescued victims.
“So, on a tipoff from members of the public who suspected the strange movements in the area and the accounts of some of the victims of these criminals, we swung into action.
“On sighting us, these men of the underworld opened fire on my men, and we quickly retaliated and overpowered them with our superior firepower,” Ezeh noted.
He highlighted that the combined security task force, established by Governor Mbah as a tactical squad against kidnappings and the activities of unknown gunmen, had made significant progress in its mission to secure the state.
“This is a gallant crack squad with the mandate to eliminate every form of threat in the state. We have recorded huge successes over the past months.
“You know our role is not to rush to the media to tell our story but to ensure that every citizen and resident of the state has peace,” SP Ezeh said.
He further emphasised the commitment of the task force to maintaining peace and security across Enugu.
“I can tell you that we have already neutralised over seven criminal gangs who were mostly kidnappers and unknown gunmen.
“We are going after them. We are taking the battle to their doorsteps because the governor said we should not come back home if we don’t completely rid the state of threats,” he asserted.