The Enugu State Police Command has intensified its border security operations under the Nigeria Police Force’s Handshake Patrol initiative with the arrest of a 25-year-old suspect allegedly found in unlawful possession of a firearm along the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday, July 13, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe, who said the arrest underscores the Command’s sustained efforts to prevent the influx of illegal firearms into Enugu State through intelligence-led policing.
According to the statement, the suspect, Ogbonna Nnaji, was apprehended in early July 2026 by operatives of the Command’s Distress Response Squad (DRS) during a routine stop-and-search operation at Ugwuoba in Oji River Local Government Area, close to the Enugu–Anambra boundary.
Police said a thorough search of the suspect led to the recovery of a concealed locally made double-barrel pistol.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Nnaji boarded a commercial Toyota Sienna vehicle from Solution Park in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, and was travelling to Enugu before he was intercepted by the operatives.
The Command said investigations are ongoing to determine the origin of the firearm and establish whether the suspect has links to other criminal activities, adding that he would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The police noted that the latest arrest came barely four days after the same Distress Response Squad recorded another operational breakthrough on June 28, 2026, when officers intercepted another suspect travelling in a commercial tricycle and recovered a firearm during a separate border security operation.
According to the Command, the successive recoveries highlight its determination to strengthen border surveillance, disrupt the movement of illegal arms and enhance public safety across the state.
Commending the operatives for their vigilance and professionalism, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining robust border security operations in line with the Inspector-General of Police’s crime prevention strategy.
“He reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to sustain robust border security operations and urged residents to remain security conscious and continue providing credible and timely information to support ongoing efforts to combat crime across the State,” Ndukwe stated.
The Enugu State Police Command further assured residents that it would continue to deploy intelligence-driven strategies and proactive policing measures to safeguard lives and property while denying criminal elements access into the state.
