The Enugu State police command says it detained 5,895 persons in connection with different criminal offences and rescued 168 kidnap victims in one year.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mamman Giwa, disclosed this on Wednesday in Enugu, while briefing journalists on the command’s achievements in one year of his assumption of duty.

Mr Giwa said that 5,163 of the suspects were detained for offences ranging from stealing to vandalism, human trafficking, fraud, and house-breaking.

According to him, 148 were detained for armed robbery; 129 for kidnapping; 158 for murder; and 48 for unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

He said that 39 were detained for rape and defilement and 210 for cultism, illicit drug trafficking, and related crimes.

Mr Giwa said: “On recoveries within the last one year of my stewardship; 105 firearms, including 22 AK-47 rifles and one G-3 automatic rifle, were recovered.

“Also, 665 rounds of live ammunition of various calibres were recovered; 118 stolen, snatched, or abandoned vehicles and large quantities of illicit drugs and other incriminating exhibits were recovered.

“The detentions and cases represent the successes the command has achieved under my watch through proactive, intelligence-led policing and operational coordination”.

The commissioner said that within the period, the command prosecuted 1,248 cases in the court, with 237 convictions and 368 cases under investigation.

He said that the command also provided adequate security for the successful hosting of some national events in Enugu, including the peaceful celebration of the yuletide.

Others were the 2026 Legal Week in January, South East Vision 2050 (SEV2050) Stakeholders Forum; and Zion Movement Outreach Crusade in February.

The rest were the one-week-long Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, which attracted over 20,000 lawyers across Nigeria.

The state police boss thanked the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, for the impressive and determined reforms he had started introducing in the force.

“I pray that Almighty God grants him the grace, strength, and wisdom required to actualise his excellent vision for the Nigeria Police Force,” Mr Giwa said.

He lauded Governor Peter Mbah, sister security agencies, law-abiding citizens, and officers and men of the command for their unwavering support, resilience and commitment to a safe and secured state. 

(NAN)