Police Arrest 14 Suspects Over Multiple Kidnappings, Murder in Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested 14 male suspects allegedly linked to several kidnapping syndicates responsible for multiple abductions and a murder in different parts of the state.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, disclosed this on Friday, during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, Enugu.

According to Giwa, the arrests followed a series of intelligence-led operations conducted by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Violent Crime Response Unit (AK-VCRU) in collaboration with other security agencies.

He said three suspects were arrested following the rescue of victims abducted from a church at Inoyi, Affa Community, Udi Local Government Area, while another suspect was neutralised. Two additional suspects linked to the incident were later traced to Port Harcourt and arrested.

The Commissioner said preliminary investigations revealed that the two suspects had fled Enugu and regrouped with other members of their gang in Port Harcourt, where they allegedly kidnapped another victim and collected ₦5 million in ransom before releasing the victim.

Giwa added that 12 other suspects were arrested in separate intelligence-driven operations carried out between June and August 2026 in Abuja, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kwara and Taraba states.

He said investigations showed that the suspects belonged to an organised criminal network operating across several states, with members converging in Enugu to plan and execute kidnapping operations before returning to their respective locations.

The police also identified an Enugu-based tricycle operator who allegedly transported gang members, firearms and other criminal materials to and from operational locations, while another member allegedly provided intelligence to help the gang evade security surveillance and identify potential targets.

The suspects reportedly confessed to involvement in several kidnapping operations along major routes and locations in Enugu, including the Enugu–Ugwuogo–Opi–Nsukka Road, Obioma–9th Mile–Umulumgbe–Ukpatu Road, Eke–Affa–Egede–Ezinze axis and parts of Ezeagu Local Government Area.

Among the cases allegedly linked to the suspects are the May 25 abduction of a man at Mgbabuowa/Aguobuowa in Ezeagu, during which ₦5.5 million was reportedly collected as ransom.

They were also linked to the May 9 attack at Obioma, Udi, where two male victims were abducted and a woman was allegedly shot dead. The gang reportedly collected $28,700 in ransom.

Another case involved the abduction of two men along the Eke–Ezinze Road on April 10, for which the suspects allegedly received $70,000, while seven victims were reportedly kidnapped at Obinaofia, Ezeagu, on April 12, with ₦25 million allegedly paid as ransom.

The police said the suspects also disclosed information about other kidnapping incidents and ransom payments during interrogation.

According to CP Giwa, investigations further revealed that proceeds from the alleged crimes were invested in livestock and properties, while some suspects allegedly spent the money on lavish lifestyles and overseas trips, including visits to neighbouring Cameroon.

Items recovered from the suspects include five AK-47 rifles, two pump-action guns, one locally fabricated firearm, 310 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, eight live cartridges and seven empty AK-47 magazines.

The Commissioner said investigations were ongoing to determine the suspects’ involvement in other kidnapping and violent-crime cases, identify additional members of the syndicates and recover more weapons and criminal proceeds.

He assured residents that the Command would continue its offensive against kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, rape, cultism and other violent crimes across the state.

Giwa commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for their support to security operations in the state.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly provide the police with information about suspicious persons, movements and activities.

The Commissioner said the arrested suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations in accordance with the law.