Operatives of the Nigeria Police in Enugu have gunned down at least 30 kidnappers, including members of the Biafra Auto Pilot, also known as Unknown Gunmen, a notorious breakaway faction of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) loyal to the Finland-based, Simon Ekpa, which terrorized Enugu and its environs
A police detective disclosed that they were killed during a gun duel with security operatives at various locations across the state in the past two weeks.
This was contained in a statement by Governor Peter Mbah’s media office which quoted a Police Superintendent, SP Onochie Ezeh, who led a joint security operation to rescue some kidnapped victims at Ugwuogo Nike-Opi Road in the early hours of Wednesday.
The operation led to the killing of a seven-man gang kidnapper at Ogbeke Nike where the kidnappers used a large poultry farm to hide their hostages.
According to the police chief, Wednesday’s successful operation was part of the sustained operations in the state to flush out criminals operating from other neighboring states, including kidnappers, unknown gunmen, and other unscrupulous elements.
“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.
“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,” he stressed.
SP Ezeh further revealed that the combined security task force, set up by the Enugu State governor, Mr Peter Mbah, as a tactical squad against kidnappings and activities of unknown gunmen, had recorded milestones in policing the state and flushing out criminal elements.
“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.
“I can tell you that we have already neutralized over 7 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 said.