POLICE KILL SUSPECTED KIDNAPPER, RESCUE VICTIM AFTER SHOOTOUT IN ENUGU
The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed the death of a suspected kidnapper during a gun battle and the successful rescue of a kidnapped victim in the state’s capital.
Police spokesperson Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement on Sunday, said the operation was carried out on Saturday by operatives from the Commissioner of Police’s Monitoring Unit and the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad.
Abduction in GRA Enugu
According to the police, the incident began on Friday night when a gang of kidnappers attacked a man driving a Mercedes SUV in the Government Residential Area (GRA) of Enugu. The assailants, who fired several shots during the abduction, whisked the victim away to an undisclosed location.
Following the report, Commissioner of Police Bitrus Giwa ordered a swift response, deploying tactical teams to track the suspects.
Gun Battle and Rescue
The police traced the gang to a hideout in a valley in Ngwo, located in Enugu South Local Government Area. A shootout ensued, during which one of the suspects was fatally shot. The victim was rescued unharmed.
However, Ndukwe disclosed that the kidnappers had already transferred N2.2 million from the victim’s account, after initially demanding a N20 million ransom.
During the operation, a locally-made double-barrel pistol with live cartridges and a green Nissan Almera used by the suspects were recovered.
Police Vow Continued Crackdown
Commending the operatives for the swift response, CP Giwa ordered intensified efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects and recover the victim’s vehicle. He reiterated the command’s commitment to eliminating criminal elements in Enugu State and called on residents to support the police with credible information.
Rising Kidnap Incidents in Enugu
This incident adds to the growing number of abductions in Enugu, particularly in Nsukka, Igbo-Eze South, and Igbo-Etiti LGAs. Civil servants, business owners, politicians, and students have all been recent targets.
Just weeks ago, nine people including two Catholic reverend sisters—were kidnapped in Ibagwa-Aka, Igbo-Eze South. They were rescued last Friday after nearly a week in captivity.
Though many of the attacks have been attributed to unknown gunmen and rising insecurity in the South-East, the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) often blamed for the unrest has repeatedly denied any involvement.
