The Police Command in Enugu State said its operatives have busted a kidnapping gang hideout and nabbed five suspects for burglary and car stealing within the state.

The Command’s Spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Enugu.

Mr Ndukwe said that the feat was achieved following intensified fight against crime ahead of the yuletide.

According to Mr Ndukwe, multiple operations carried out by the command have led to recovery of firearms, ammunition, military uniforms and stolen items, including a car.

He said that on December 15, a combined team of operatives from Nsukka Area Command, acting on intelligence, raided a kidnapping gang’s hideout in Nru community within Nsukka council area.

He stated, “The suspects engaged the operatives in a gunfight, but fled with gunshot injuries under superior police firepower. A loaded revolver pistol, a cut-to-size single-barrel gun, two live cartridges, military camouflage uniforms, a Moniepoint POS machine and ATM cards were recovered. Preliminary investigations revealed the gang’s involvement in a recent case of kidnapping and other heinous crimes in the Nsukka axis. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.”

The command spokesman said that in a different operation, on November 14, operatives from the Abakaliki Road Police Division of the command arrested four burglary suspects.

“The suspects had burgled and stole bicycles, laptops, phones and other items from a house in GRA, Enugu. The stolen items were recovered, while the suspects confessed to the crime,” he said.

Mr Ndukwe noted that operatives from the Central Police Station in early December, apprehended a suspect for stealing a red Volkswagen Passat car from where it was parked on the premises of a church at Coal Camp, Enugu.

He said that the car was recovered, while the suspect confessed to the crime.

“The state’s Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, has reaffirmed the command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring public security and safety in Enugu State during the festive period and beyond. He urges citizens to remain vigilant, report suspicious individuals and their activities, and also cooperate with law enforcement agents to maintain peace and security across the state,” he said.

(NAN)