By Gracia Christopher
It was harvest of arrest of suspected criminals as the Enugu State Police Command paraded 15 suspects.
The suspects were all males arrested for alleged offenses of conspiracy; kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, unlawful possession of firearms and fraudulent acts.
The arrests also led to the rescue of seven kidnapped victims and the recovery of seven firearms; two motor vehicles, one motorcycle, one dagger, cash sum of N701,000.00, and other incriminating exhibits.
The arrest and recovery were done in separate operations carried out by police operatives of the Command, with support from other security forces and law-abiding citizens.
Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani, who paraded the suspects at a press briefing at Command headquarters, GRA , Enugu, said, that operatives of Anti-Cultism Squad of the Command, on June 26, at about 2.am, acting on a tip-off, carried out a raid operation in a hotel (name withheld) along Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway, and arrested one Ali Jubril aged 25, a native of Kogi State,”the suspect is reasonably suspected to be a member of a kidnapping gang, while the total sum of N701,000.00, which he could not give satisfactorily account of, and one dagger, were recovered from him. Further discreet investigation is ongoing at the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command.
“Similarly, police operatives of the Command, serving in Igbo-Eze North Division, with active assistance from Forest Guard and Neighbourhood Watch Group, on 25/06/2023 at about 1pm, rescued four kidnapped victims (two males and two females, names withheld), after an intense gun fight with the kidnappers in a forest at Aishi-Ette in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area.
The CP, who was represented by Enugu State Police Publlic Relations Officer ( PPRO), DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said,the kidnappers, most of whom escaped with varying degrees of gunshot injuries, abandoned the victims due to the superior firepower of the operatives. However, one of the victims sustained a gunshot wound in his left thigh during the duel, but was moved to the hospital, he is responding to treatment and in stable condition; while others and all the Operatives returned unscathed.
“The victims were reported to have been kidnapped at Umuopu village, along Ette/Ogugu Road, on 23/06/2023 at about 9.30 pm, on their way to Obollo-Afor, Enugu State from Ankpa, Kogi State, with the hoodlums said to have demanded ransom of N10,000,000.00 for each of them.
“Also, acting on a tip-off, Police Operatives of the Command serving in Adani Police Division, in a Joint Operation with Troops of the Nigerian Army Enugu, Forest Guards and the Neighbourhood Watch Group, on 25/06/2023 at about 6pm, rescued a woman and her child, alleged to have been kidnapped at Ngene-Ukwu, along Adani-Opanda Road. The Joint Team is still on the trail of the suspected kidnappers.
“In a different case, acting on credible information on alleged attempted armed robbery, Police Operatives serving in Awkunanaw Division of the Command, in synergy with the Neighbourhood Watch Group, on 22/06/2023 at about 1.30pm, arrested one male suspect, Danjuma Mohammed aged 21, at New Gariki Cattle Market, and recovered one locally fabricated pistol from him. Further discreet investigation to apprehend his cohorts at large and recover more exhibits is ongoing.
” In another development, following the receipt of distress information on alleged kidnapping at Api-Opi, along Enugu/Opi/Nsukka Road, on 19/06/2023 at about 6pm, police operatives serving in Umabor Division of the Command, immediately mobilized to the scene ,and while combing the forest, they rescued a female victim (names withheld), who had escaped from the kidnappers. However, while still at the scene, the operatives sighted and arrested two male suspects: Sani Usman, 25 ,and Landi Usman,30, both from Sokoto State, who the rescued victim identified as members of the kidnapping gang. The motorcycle they rode to the scene was recovered, while the case is undergoing further discreet investigation and tactical operational actions at the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command.
“Also, on 18/06/2023, police operatives serving in Abakaliki Road Division, acting on credible information, busted a one chance armed robbery, abduction, rape and fraud syndicate, and arrested the following suspects: Uche Nnanna Ede,21, of Ugbawka, Nkanu East LGA,Paschal Chukwu, 25, of Nomeh in Nkanu East LGA,Moses Uchechukwu Nnaji,20, of Agbani in Nkanu West LGA, and
Joshua Okonkwo,22, of Ugbawka, Nkanu East LGA.
“Their arrest is as a result of the Operatives tactical response to series of complaints, alleging that the suspects used commercial mini buses to abduct their unsuspecting victims within Enugu metropolis, particularly young females, to secluded locations, where they robbed, raped and transferred sums of money out of their bank accounts at gunpoint. One Pump Action gun was recovered from them.
“The suspects confessed to the crime and have been identified by some of their victims. Hence, other victims are urged to come forward to further identify them, even as the citizenry, especially young ladies and other vulnerable persons, are urged to be security conscious and wary of where, when and how they board commercial vehicles.
“Also, Police Operatives serving in Emene Police Division of the Command, on 20/06/2023 at about 7.20am, while on routine stop and search duty along Ugwuomu-Nike Road, Enugu, intercepted a motorcycle and upon search conducted on the rider and his male passenger, two (2) locally made guns and workshop tools were recovered from the passenger, one Edeh Longinus 47, who is physically challenged and of Ohuani-Owo in Nkanu East LGA.
“Preliminary investigation shows that he is a gun fabricator and runner, with workshop at Amanvu in Nkalagu community of Ebonyi State. Further discreet investigation is ongoing at Crack Squad Unit of the Command.
“Similarly, Police Operatives serving in Udenu Area Command of the Command, arrested one Obinna Emmanuel Nnaji aged 29, of Obollor-Afor, on 16/06/2023, for threatening violence and unlawful possession of firearm, recovering one locally made Double-barreled gun from him. His arrest and the recovery is sequel to a report received at the Area Command, alleging that he, on 31/05/2023 at about 5.30pm, violently threatened to shoot the complainant (names withheld), who had gone to his house in April 2023, to demand for the payment of the sum of N70,000.00 she lend to him. Further discreet investigation into the case is ongoing at the Anti-Robbery Section of the State CID Enugu.
“In a related development, Police Operatives serving in Nkanu East Division, working with members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, on 21/03/2023, arrested one Chiemerie Edeh, 22, at Ishi-Ogbo Nara in Nkanu East LGA, and recovered one locally made pistol from him. His arrest was due to a complaint alleging that he violently threatened the complainant on the said day. The suspect and the exhibit were transferred to the Anti-Robbery Section of the State CID Enugu, from where further discreet investigation led to the recovery of two more locally made guns from him”
In another development, he said that ,operatives, serving in Igbo-Eze North Division, with active assistance from Forest Guard and Neighbourhood Watch Group, on Sunday, 25th June 2023, rescued four kidnapped victims (two males and two females, names withheld), after an intense gun fight with the kidnappers in a forest at Aishi-Ette in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area.
“The kidnappers, most of whom escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds, abandoned the victims due to the superior firepower of the Operatives. However, one of the victims sustained a gunshot wound in his left thigh during the duel, but was moved to the hospital, is responding to treatment and in stable condition; while others and all the Operatives returned unscathed.
” The victims were reported to have been kidnapped at Umuopu village, along Ette/Ogugu Road, on 23/06/2023 at about 9.30 pm, on their way to Obollo-Afor, Enugu State from Ankpa, Kogi State, with the hoodlums said to have demanded ransom of N10,000,000.00 for each of them.
“To this end, the commending police operatives and all who supported them to actualize the operational feats, the CP , has reiterated the commitment of the Command to continue to protect the lives and property of citizens, as well as maintain maximum public security and safety in the State. He, however, pleads with all and sundry to remain supportive, as security is still everybodys business”
