Enugu Police arrest 14 suspected kidnap syndicate members and recover five AK-47 rifles, two pump-action guns and ammunition in intelligence-led operations.
The Enugu State Police Command has arrested 14 suspected members of kidnapping syndicates operating in Enugu and other parts of Nigeria, recovering five AK-47 rifles, two pump-action guns, ammunition and other weapons.
The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Enugu.
Giwa said the suspects were arrested during intelligence-led operations conducted in June, July and August 2026 across the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kwara and Taraba states.
According to the commissioner, the suspects are linked to several kidnapping operations in and outside Enugu State, including the August 2 attack on St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Affa, in Udi Local Government Area.
Giwa said two of the suspects arrested were among the remaining members of the gang allegedly involved in the Affa church kidnapping.
He said the two suspects fled Enugu for Port Harcourt following sustained pressure from joint security operatives but later regrouped with other members of the gang.
“Further intelligence-led operations by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Violent Crime Response Unit (AK-VCRU) led to the arrest of two additional male suspects linked to the Affa Church kidnapping,” Giwa said.
He added that preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects subsequently participated in another kidnapping operation in Port Harcourt, where a victim was released after a ransom of N5 million was paid.
The commissioner said preliminary investigations had linked the suspects to several recent and previous kidnapping incidents along major routes and communities in Enugu State.
These include the Enugu–Ugwuogo–Opi–Nsukka Road, Obioma–9th Mile–Umulumgbe–Okpatu Road, Eke–Affa–Egede–Ezinze axis and various locations in Ezeagu Local Government Area.
Giwa specifically listed several alleged operations under investigation.
They include the May 25, 2026, abduction of a male victim at Mgbabuowa/Aguobuowa in Ezeagu LGA, during which N5 million was allegedly collected as ransom.
He also cited the May 9 abduction of two male victims and the shooting and killing of a female victim at Obioma, Udi LGA, during which the gang allegedly obtained $28,700.
Another alleged incident occurred on April 10 along the Eke–Ezinze Road in Udi LGA, where two male victims were abducted and a ransom of $70,000 was allegedly paid.
The police also linked the suspects to the April 12 kidnapping of seven victims at Obinaofia in Ezeagu LGA, during which N25 million was allegedly obtained as ransom.
The allegations are subject to further investigation and prosecution.
Giwa described the suspects as members of an organised criminal network operating across several states.
According to him, members of the syndicate travelled into Enugu to plan and execute kidnapping operations before returning to their respective locations.
He said investigations uncovered the involvement of an Enugu-based tricycle operator who allegedly transported gang members, firearms and other criminal equipment to and from operational locations.
Another Enugu-based member allegedly provided intelligence that helped the gang evade security surveillance and identify potential victims and locations.
The commissioner said the suspects allegedly concealed proceeds from their criminal activities through investments in livestock and properties, while also spending heavily on leisure and foreign trips, including trips to Cameroon.
The police displayed several weapons and ammunition recovered during the operations.
Items recovered 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 empty AK-47 magazines.
Giwa said investigations were continuing to establish the suspects’ involvement in other kidnapping and violent-crime cases, identify additional members of the network and recover more firearms, ammunition and proceeds allegedly linked to the crimes.
“Upon conclusion of investigation, the suspects will be charged to court in accordance with extant laws,” he said.
The commissioner attributed the latest breakthrough to sustained intelligence gathering, ICT-enabled investigations, inter-agency collaboration, interstate cooperation and coordinated operational policing.
He also credited the availability of modern security infrastructure in the state for supporting the command’s operations.
Giwa commended Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu for their leadership and support in strengthening security operations in the state.
He also thanked other security agencies and members of the public for their cooperation.
The commissioner reaffirmed the command’s determination to make Enugu increasingly hostile to kidnapping and other violent crimes, including criminal groups attempting to operate from outside the state.
One of the suspects reportedly confessed to journalists that his gang operated along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and collected millions of naira in ransom before security operatives arrested members of the group.
The Enugu Police Command has previously recorded several intelligence-led operations against kidnapping syndicates, including the arrest of suspected kidnappers and recovery of firearms and other exhibits. In March 2026, the command reported that it had arrested 5,895 suspects for various offences and rescued 168 kidnapped victims over the preceding year.
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