The Enugu State Police Command has disclosed the arrest of 123 suspects for their involvement in different crimes in the state while also rescuing kidnap victims and recovering a cache of arms and ammunition.
Briefing newsmen in Enugu on Thursday, the Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, said the suspects were arrested for their involvement in cases of Murder, Kidnapping, Armed robbery and cultism between July and August 2024.
“Gentlemen of the press, it is important to inform you that between July 2024 and now, we arrested numerous criminal suspects for the offences of murder, armed robbery, kidnapping or abduction, rape or defilement, vandalism, stealing, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, cultism and so on.
“Several incriminating exhibits were recovered during the operations, while many of the suspects have been arraigned in court and remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Custodial Centres.”
Providing further details on the arrest made in the period under review, CP Uzuegbu stated that; “yesterday, August 21, 2024, at about 5 p.m., Police Operatives serving in the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad recovered an AK-47 rifle at New Artisan, Enugu.
“The recovery followed the operatives’ swift response to credible information alleging the milling around of suspicious persons in the area. The suspects upon sighting the operatives opened fire on them. However, the operatives promptly returned fire, forcing the hoodlums to escape with gunshot wounds and abandoning the rifle. However, a discreet investigation is ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
“Similarly, on August 19, 2024, at about 1:30 a.m., a combined team of Tactical Police operatives busted a kidnapping gang hideout at New Artisan and arrested five (5) suspects. The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation and aiding further discreet investigations aimed at fishing out others at large.
“Also, on August 15, 2024, at about 2 a.m., operational and tactical Police Operatives of the Command raided the camp of the outlawed IPOB/ESN renegades at Aninwede Nkwubor, Emene, Enugu. The subversive criminal elements on sighting the operatives opened fire on them. But the operatives returned fire at a superior level, neutralizing two of them, while others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.
“Incriminating exhibits, including firearms the hoodlums snatched from security operatives after attacking them were recovered, while discreet investigations are ongoing to arrest those at large.
“Furthermore, on August 17, 2024, at about 3:20 a.m., a combined team of the Commands Police Operatives serving in the Awkunanaw Police Division and Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad arrested the following suspects: Obumneme Amara m, aged 26, of Ikwo LGA in Ebonyi State, Elom Chinedu (alias Terry G) m, aged 23, Sani Usman (alias Gburugburu) m, aged 27, and Onuh Emmanuel m, aged 26, all of New Cattle Market, Awkunanaw, Enugu.
“The suspects were arrested following the operatives swift response to credible information, alleging that the suspects are part of an armed robbery gang perpetrating criminal acts in different parts of the Enugu metropolis. However, further discreet investigations are ongoing to arrest their cohorts at large.
“Additionally, Police Operatives serving in the Independence Layout Police Division of the Command, on August 21, 2024, at about 2 p.m., arrested three male suspects and recovered a suspected stolen tricycle and a motor vehicle gearbox. The suspects, who were arrested during the operatives routine surveillance patrol at Idume, New Phase 2, Independence Layout, Enugu. The suspects include: Mohammed Mohammed, aged 27, of Thinkers Corner, Enugu; Onyedikachi Okolo, aged 22, and; Mohammed Idris Sani, aged 22, both of New Artisan, Enugu.”
The police Boss while parading some of the suspects, gave a breakdown of the recoveries as follows;
Total number of suspects arrested = 123
Abducted/kidnapped victims rescued =19
AK-47 and assault rifles recovered = 15
Pump action guns recovered = 25
Other firearms recovered = 35
Live ammunition of different calibres recovered = 710
Live cartridges recovered = 187
Motor vehicles recovered = 17
Tricycles recovered = 11
Motorcycles recovered = 8
While thanking the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah for being pragmatic in handling security issues, he enjoined the residents and landlords to be more mindful of their environment.
“I, therefore, wish to sincerely appreciate the Enugu State Government, under the able leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, for taking the bold and pragmatic steps of demolishing houses and facilities used in harbouring and perpetrating acts of abduction and kidnapping in the State.
“It is heartwarming to note that this decisive and supportive action is in line with the provisions of the law of Enugu State. Moreover, the exercise will serve as a morale booster to us, especially as we execute our security operations and frantically work towards making Enugu State uninhabitable for kidnappers and other criminal elements.
“I call on citizens of Enugu State, particularly landlords, hoteliers, and owners of uncompleted buildings to be mindful of who they accommodate in such structures. This is to ensure that they do not harbour criminals whose activities could bring about the demolition of their building facilities.”
