The Enugu State Police Command has arrested two sisters, Juliet Chukwu and Ngozi Nancy Chukwu, for allegedly orchestrating the kidnapping of their elder brother, Mr. Friday Chukwu.
The duo, who are personnel of Nigerian security agencies—Juliet with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Ngozi with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)—are accused of coordinating the abduction, which occurred last month along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway near the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, in Nkanu West Local Government Area.
According to sources close to the investigation, their involvement led to the payment of a ₦30 million ransom to secure Mr. Chukwu’s release.
The victim is a native of Amaeze village in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Further investigations have reportedly connected the sisters to another recent kidnapping—that of Engineer Dennis Igwe, the General Manager of China Oriental Mining Company—who was abducted in the same area earlier this week. A ₦10 million ransom was allegedly paid for his release.
Police operatives tracked the sisters to a hotel, where they were reportedly caught trying to share the ransom money. Authorities say four other suspects believed to be members of the same syndicate are still at large.
Confirming the arrests, Chief Emmanuel Ajah, Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area, stated he had officially written to both the Enugu State Police Command and the Ebonyi Command of the NSCDC concerning the matter.
“Though the incidents occurred outside my jurisdiction, the safety of our people remains a top priority,” he said.
Local sources allege that the sisters may be part of a broader criminal network operating in Ishiagu, involving vandalism and collaboration with external gangs.
Attempts to get comments from the Ebonyi State Police Command were unsuccessful, as SP Joshua Ukandu, the Police Public Relations Officer, did not respond to inquiries at the time of filing this report.
Police say investigations are ongoing, and efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining suspects.