The Enugu State Police Command has arrested 14 suspected members of different kidnapping syndicates allegedly linked to multiple abductions, ransom collections running into millions of naira and $98,700 in US currency, as well as the murder of a female victim in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, disclosed this on Friday, August 14, 2026, during a press briefing at the command headquarters in GRA, Enugu, where the suspects were paraded.
Giwa said the arrests were the outcome of a series of intelligence-led operations conducted by the command in collaboration with other security agencies across several states.
According to him, the suspects are members of an organised criminal network operating across state lines, with members converging in Enugu to plan and execute kidnapping operations before returning to their respective locations.
The CP said the latest operation followed the August 2 abduction of three persons from a church at Inoyi, Affa Community, Udi Local Government Area, where one of the victims was rescued on August 2.
Subsequent joint operations by security agencies led to the rescue of the remaining two victims, the arrest of three suspects, the neutralisation of another suspect and the recovery of ransom money, firearms, ammunition and other incriminating exhibits.
Giwa disclosed that two additional suspects linked to the Affa church kidnapping were later traced to Port Harcourt, where they had fled following increased operational pressure in Enugu.
He said the suspects were arrested and brought back to Enugu, adding that preliminary investigation showed that they subsequently regrouped with other members of their network in Port Harcourt and abducted another victim.
The victim, according to the police, was released after the payment of a ₦5 million ransom.
The Commissioner said the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Violent Crime Response Unit (AK-VCRU) also arrested 12 other suspects through human and technical intelligence operations conducted in different parts of the country.
The suspects were arrested at various times in June, July and August 2026 in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kwara and Taraba states.
Ransoms running into millions, dollars
Preliminary investigations, the CP said, have linked the suspects to several kidnapping operations in Enugu State, with victims and their families allegedly paying substantial ransoms before release.
The suspected syndicate was linked to the abduction of a male victim at Mgbabuowa/Aguobuowa, Ezeagu LGA, on May 25, 2026, during which ₦5.5 million was reportedly collected as ransom.
The suspects were also allegedly involved in the May 9 kidnapping at Obioma, Udi LGA, during which two male victims were abducted while a female victim was shot and killed.
The gang reportedly collected $28,700 in ransom from that operation.
Another operation allegedly linked to the suspects occurred along the Eke-Ezinze Road in Udi LGA on April 10, where two male victims were abducted and the gang allegedly received $70,000 as ransom.
Police also linked the suspects to the April 12 abduction of seven victims at Obinaofia in Ezeagu LGA, during which ₦25 million was reportedly obtained.
The two dollar-denominated ransom payments alone amounted to $98,700.
Giwa said the suspects had, during interrogation, confessed to their involvement in several other recent and past kidnapping incidents across the state, including operations along the Enugu-Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka Road; Obioma-9th Mile-Umulumgbe-Okpatu Road; Eke-Affa-Egede-Ezinze axis, as well as various locations in Ezeagu.
“These are in addition to other kidnapping incidents and ransom payments which the suspects have disclosed during interrogation,” the Commissioner said.
How gang operated
The police chief said the investigation uncovered a support structure within the syndicate, including Enugu-based collaborators who allegedly assisted the kidnappers with transportation and intelligence.
According to him, one Enugu-based member operates a tricycle and allegedly transports gang members, firearms and other criminal implements to and from operational locations.
Another Enugu-based member allegedly provides intelligence that enables the gang to evade security surveillance and identify potential targets and suitable locations for kidnapping operations.
Giwa said the suspects operated from different parts of the country but regularly converged in Enugu to plan and execute their operations.
Five AK-47 rifles recovered
The police recovered a significant cache of firearms and ammunition during the operations.
The exhibits recovered so far include:
- Five AK-47 rifles
- Two pump-action guns
- One locally fabricated firearm
- 310 rounds of live 7.62 x 39mm ammunition
- Eight live cartridges
- Seven AK-47 empty magazines
The Commissioner said investigations also revealed that the suspects allegedly concealed and laundered proceeds from their criminal activities through investments in livestock and properties, lavish spending, conspicuous consumption and overseas trips, including visits to neighbouring countries such as Cameroon.
Giwa said the investigation was still ongoing to determine the suspects’ involvement in other kidnapping and violent-crime cases within and outside Enugu State.
He added that the command was working to identify and arrest other members of the syndicate and recover additional firearms, ammunition and proceeds of crime.
Police credit intelligence, technology
The Commissioner attributed the breakthrough to sustained intelligence gathering, ICT-enabled investigations, inter-agency collaboration, interstate cooperation and coordinated policing.
He assured residents that the command would intensify its offensive against kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, rape, cultism and other violent crimes.
Giwa said: “We will continue to make Enugu State increasingly unconducive to unrepentant local criminals, criminal elements seeking to infiltrate the State, and their activities.”
He also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information about suspicious persons, movements and activities through established police channels.
The CP commended Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu for his strategic leadership and operational support, as well as Enugu State Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for his support for security operations and initiatives aimed at making the state safe for residents, visitors and legitimate economic activities.
He equally praised other security agencies for their collaboration and urged communities to continue supporting intelligence-led policing.
Upon completion of investigations, Giwa said the suspects would be charged to court in accordance with extant laws.
