The Enugu State police command says it has 14 kidnap suspects in its custody, following intelligence-led operations, which busted major kidnap syndicates operating in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, disclosed this in Enugu at a news briefing on Friday.

Mr Giwa spoke on the command’s recent successes against coordinated kidnap syndicates.

He said the command recovered some weapons, including five AK-47 rifles, two pump-action guns, one locally-fabricated firearm, 310 rounds of live 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, eight live cartridges and seven AK-47 empty magazines.

He stated that in separate joint operations recently, security operatives rescued kidnap victims at Ogbozara Community in Nsukka LGA and Owukpa Community in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue, recovering several exhibits, including live ammunition.

According to him, one of the victims abducted in a Church at Inoyi, Affa community in Udi LGA, was rescued on August 2.

“A joint, intelligence-led operation subsequently led to the rescue of the remaining two victims, the arrest of three suspects, the neutralising of one suspect, and the recovery of ransom money, firearms, ammunition and other incriminating exhibits.

“Further intelligence-led operations by the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Violent Crime Response Unit led to the arrest of two additional male suspects linked to the Affa Church kidnap.

“The duo, who fled to Port Harcourt following the operational pressure mounted by joint security operatives, were traced and arrested in Port Harcourt and brought back to Enugu.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that after fleeing Enugu, the suspects regrouped with their cohorts in Port Harcourt and abducted another victim, who was released after a ₦5 million ransom was paid,” he said.

The commissioner further said that in a sustained offensive against kidnapping and other violent crimes, 12 additional suspects were earlier arrested through human and technical intelligence-led operations conducted in different parts of the country.

He said that the suspects were arrested at different times in June, July and August 2026 in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kwara and Taraba States.

Mr Giwa said that the investigation revealed that the suspects were members of an organised criminal network operating from different parts of the country.

He explained that they usually converged on Enugu State to plan and execute kidnap operations before returning to their respective locations.

He said that the network was aided by an Enugu-based member, who operates a tricycle and provides transportation for the gang members, their firearms and other criminal implements to and from operational locations.

The state police boss said that another Enugu-based member provided intelligence that enabled the gang to evade security surveillance and identified suitable targets and locations.

“The suspects have, during interrogation, confessed to their involvement in several recent and past kidnap incidents across Enugu State, including along Enugu–Ugwuogo–Opi–Nsukka Road; Obioma–9th Mile–Umulumgbe–Okpatu Road; Eke–Affa–Egede–Ezinze axis; and various locations in Ezeagu LGA,” he said.

He further explained that “preliminary investigation has linked the suspects to many armed kidnappings, including the abduction of a male victim at Mgbabuowa/Aguobuowa, Ezeagu LGA, on May 25, during which ₦5.5 million was obtained as ransom.

Others, he said, included the abduction of two male victims and the shooting to death of a female victim at Obioma, Udi LGA, on May 9, during which the gang obtained $28,000 as ransom.

The rest was the kidnap of seven victims at Obinaofia, Ezeagu LGA, on April 12, during which ₦25 million was obtained as ransom, as well as other kidnap incidents and ransom payments, which the suspects disclosed during interrogation,” Mr Giwa said.

He also said the suspects laundered and concealed proceeds of their criminal activities through investments in livestock and property, lavish spending, and other conspicuous consumption, as well as leisure and overseas trips.

He said that investigations would establish the suspects’ involvement in other kidnap and violent-crime incidents within and outside the state, identify and arrest other members of the syndicate, and recover additional firearms and ammunition.

“The command will also recover other criminal proceeds and, finally, after the extensive investigations, they will be charged in court in accordance with extant laws,” Mr Giwa said.

(NAN)