Enugu State police command has rescued four kidnapped victims and neutralised one during a rescue operation in a forest at Agbogazi-Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area (LGA).

The police also recovered one AK-47 rifle loaded with 19 rounds of live ammunition from the fleeing armed hoodlums.

This is contained in a statement issued by the command’s spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, on Tuesday in Enugu.

Mr Ndukwe said that the feat was achieved by the Hawk Tactical Squad on Dec 19 at about 10 a.m.

He said that the squad swiftly responded to credible information about the activities of the armed hoodlums barely one hour after they kidnapped their victims.

He said: “The hoodlums, upon sighting the operatives, opened fire on them, but the gallant and tactful operatives returned fire, neutralizing one of the hoodlums and forcing others to escape with fatal gunshot wounds.

“Further manhunt operations to fish out the fleeing suspects are ongoing.

Police operatives, working with other security personnel, similarly “rescued travellers, alleged to have been kidnapped along Ette Road in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, on their way to Abuja on Dec. 13, 2023.”

The command spokesman said that the Enugu Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, had reiterated the avowed commitment of the police to deal ruthlessly with unrepentant violent criminals and their activities in the state.

He said: “The commissioner commended the gallant efforts of the operatives while charging them to ensure that the fleeing miscreants are fished out, dead or alive.

“The commissioner, therefore, entreats residents of the state to remain law-abiding, vigilant, supportive, and report individuals sighted with gunshot wounds to the nearest police station, or call 08032003702, 08075380883, 08086671202, or 08098880172.”

(NAN)