The Enugu State Police Command, Friday, announced the neutralisation of two suspected kidnappers. The command also said it rescued a kidnap victim during the operation.
The state police command s Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, stated this in a statement made available to NewsNGR in Enugu. Ndukwe said the incident occurred on October 17, 2024, around 8pm.
Quoting him, “Operatives from the Enugu State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping, Distress Response and Special Intervention Squads, raided a kidnappers’ hideout in Nokpa-Nike, Enugu East Local Government Area, following a diligently gathered actionable intelligence.
“Upon the operatives’ arrival, the kidnappers opened fire, prompting a return of fire. In the process, two of the suspects were neutralised, while others fled with varying degrees of gunshot injuries. A manhunt for the fleeing suspects and others linked to the syndicate is underway.”
He said a male victim, identified as the personal assistant (PA) to a public figure (names withheld), kidnapped by the gang on September 27, 2024, at Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, was rescued unharmed.
Items recovered from the encounter , according to him, included one G-3 rifle, two AK-47 rifles, three magazines, and one hundred and twenty-five rounds of live ammunition.
He stated that, “Preliminary investigations reveal that this criminal group had demanded a ransom of forty million naira (N40,000,000.00) for the release of the victim. The group is also found to be responsible for several kidnappings within Enugu metropolis and its environs.
“Some of their members had previously been arrested and arraigned in court, with firearms and ammunition recovered from them.”
It was gathered that the suspects belonged to the same syndicate that was once raided at a hideout by the police, leading to the destruction of the buildings they used for criminal acts.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, has commended the operatives’ efforts and reiterated the command’s unwavering resolve to eradicate violent crimes in the state.
He called on the public to remain law-abiding, vigilant, and to support the police in their efforts.