Enugu: The Enugu State Police Command says it has arrested nine kidnapping suspects and rescue three victims in Enugu State.
Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the Command, Daniel Ndukwe disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
Ndukwe said Police Operatives of the Command serving at Independence Layout Police Division, on 20/10/2022 at about 2.30pm, arrested three (3) kidnapping suspects namely: Chidi Jobbison (male) aged 24, Emmanuel Ogbu (m) aged 25 and Ogochukwu Nweke (f) aged 17, at Nkwo in Ugwuaji community of Enugu South LGA, and rescued their male kidnapped victim.
He also said Police Operatives serving at Udenu Police Division of the Command, on 16/10/2022 at about 1.25pm, promptly responded to a distress call and arrested six (6) kidnapping suspects and rescued two (2) of their victims, at Igbokwube Village, Amalla in Udenu LGA.
According to the statement, the suspects include: Okechi Chijioke (male) aged 29 and Ugwu Christiana (f) aged 24 (principal suspects), Ndidi Ekwueme (female) aged 27 (jujuist), Chinwe Okoro (female) aged 35 (ransom receiver), Nwabueze Friday (male) aged 26 (tricyclist) and Titus Ekeh (male) aged 70 (provider of accommodation used for keeping the kidnapped victims).
Meanwhile, the state Police Commissioner,Ahmed Ammani has ordered the maximum deployment of operational and intelligence resources of the Command to ensure adequate security on the Agu-Ekwegbe community axis of Ugwuogo-Nike/Opi/Nsukka highway and rescue persons allegedly abducted and arrest the hoodlums recently.
The statement said the command will sustain onslaught on criminal elements in the state to ensure safety of lives and property.
The PPRO said suspects will be arraigned in court after conclusion of investigations.
The statement reads.
“Following the receipt of the report of alleged attack and abduction of some travellers at Agu-Ekwegbe community axis of Ugwuogo-Nike/Opi/Nsukka highway, in the evening hours of 23/10/2022, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, *CP Ahmed Ammani, fdc*, has ordered the maximum deployment of operational and intelligence resources of the Command to ensure adequate security on the said road, rescue unascertained number of persons allegedly abducted and arrest the hoodlums”.
“Consequently, the Commissioner has reassured users of the said road and the citizenry of the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensure that their security and safety are maximally maintained, while categorically stating that onslaught on unrepentant criminal elements in the State shall be sustained”.
“Meanwhile, Police Operatives of the Command serving at Independence Layout Police Division, on 20/10/2022 at about 2.30pm, arrested three (3) kidnapping suspects namely: Chidi Jobbison (male) aged 24, Emmanuel Ogbu (m) aged 25 and Ogochukwu Nweke (f) aged 17, at Nkwo in Ugwuaji community of Enugu South LGA, and rescued their male kidnapped victim. Their arrest is due to the Operatives swift response to credible information alleging the trio and other members of their gang that escaped, wearing masks and operating in a mini bus, abducted the said victim from his house to a bush in the mentioned location and obtained a ransom of six hundred and fifty thousand naira (N650,00.00), through a POS Operator. However, the Operatives clamped down on them, arrested the suspects and recovered the yellow-coloured Suzuki mini bus with reg. no. UKP 270 YP and two (2) masks”.
“Similarly, Police Operatives serving at Udenu Police Division of the Command, on 16/10/2022 at about 1.25pm, promptly responded to a distress call and arrested six (6) kidnapping suspects and rescued two (2) of their victims, at Igbokwube Village, Amalla in Udenu LGA. The suspects include: Okechi Chijioke (male) aged 29 and Ugwu Christiana (f) aged 24 (principal suspects), Ndidi Ekwueme (female) aged 27 (jujuist), Chinwe Okoro (female) aged 35 (ransom receiver), Nwabueze Friday (male) aged 26 (tricyclist) and Titus Ekeh (male) aged 70 (provider of accommodation used for keeping the kidnapped victims).
“Ongoing investigation reveals that the male principal suspect lured the victims through Facebook, with the promise of selling cheap clothes and bags to them. But instead, took them to the said location working with his cohorts, and obtained a combined ransom of about five hundred thousand naira (N500,000.00) without releasing them, before they were apprehended and the victims rescued. One (1) Dane gun, one (1) mock gun, one (1) tricycle, one (1) gas burner, one (1) 8-inches Winco foam, four (4) bags containing clothing materials and other incriminating items were recovered from them.
“The suspects will be arraigned in court once investigations are concluded.
