Yuletide: Enugu Police Bust Kidnap Gangs, Arrest Suspects

The Enugu State Police Command in multiple operations has busted a kidnapping gang hideout and arrested five suspects for burglary and car stealing.

These operations also resulted in the recovery of firearms, ammunition, military uniforms, and stolen items, including a car.

According to the State’s Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, the kidnap gangs were arrested in Nru, Nsukka local government area.

Items recovered from them included a loaded revolver pistol, a single barrel gun, two live cartridges, a Point of Sales (POS) machine and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.

He said the suspects were involved in recent kidnappings and other crimes in Nsukka.

“On December 15, 2024, a combined team of operatives from Nsukka Area Command, acting on intelligence, raided a kidnapping gang’s hideout in Nru community, Nsukka LGA. The suspects engaged the operatives in a gunfight, but fled with gunshot injuries under superior police firepower

“A loaded revolver pistol, a cut-to-size single-barrel gun, two live cartridges, military camouflage uniforms, a Moniepoint POS machine, and ATM cards were recovered.

“Preliminary investigations revealed the gang’s involvement in a recent case of kidnapping and other heinous crimes in Nsukka. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects,” he said.

Also, in another operation, the Command arrested suspects for allegedly burglary and stealing a car.

Nelson Uchechi, Waziri Adamu, Auwal Kachalla, and Abba Mohammed were arrested for alleged burglary, while  Chukwuka Chika was arrested for allegedly stealing a red Volkswagen Passat car.

“In a different operation, on November 14, 2024, operatives from the Abakaliki Road Police Division of the Command arrested four burglary male suspects, namely: Nelson Uchechi, aged 22, Waziri Adamu, aged 21, Auwal Kachalla, aged 30, and Abba Mohammed.

“The suspects had burgled and stolen bicycles, laptops, phones, and other items from a house in GRA, Enugu, on November 14, 2024, around 2 a.m. The stolen items were recovered, while the suspects confessed to the crime and were subsequently arraigned in court and remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Custodial custody.

“In another operation, operatives from the Central Police Station of the Command, in early December 2024, arrested Chukwudi Chika (male, aged 35) for stealing a red Volkswagen Passat car from where it was parked on the premises of a church at Coal Camp, Enugu.
The car was recovered, while the suspect confessed to the crime. He has been arraigned in court and remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Custodial custody,” the statement added.

The State’s Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, advised criminals to leave the state. He assured the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring public security and safety in Enugu State during the festive period and beyond.

He urged citizens to remain vigilant, report suspicious individuals and their activities, and also cooperate with law enforcement agents to maintain peace and security across the State.