Operatives of the Enugu State Police command have rescued five kidnap victims abducted on their way from a wedding in the state.
This came as the police arrested a total of four male victims involved in different offenses of conspiracy, housebreaking and vandalism, and unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition.
It was gathered that the victims were rescued by a joint operation carried out by police operatives serving at 9th Mile Police Division of the command and troops of the Nigerian Army on 07/08/2023 at about 5pm.
They were rescued in a forest at Umulumgbe in Udi Local Government Area and reunited with their families, according to a release by the state police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe.
Ndukwe added that the rescued victims were kidnapped on their way back from a traditional marriage at Ukehe community in Igbo-Etiti LGA, adding that an intense manhunt operation was ongoing to fish out the fleeing suspects that abducted them.
In another development, police operatives serving in Udenu Area Command of the state command, on 08/08/2023 at about 3.30pm, arrested one Chinemerem Ugwueze (male), aged 23, of Imilike-Enu in Udenu LGA, and recovered one locally made double-barreled pistol from him.
Ndukwe stated that the case was undergoing investigations at the Firearm Section of the State CID, Enugu.
He also disclosed that police special forces and operatives serving in Igbo-Eze North Police Division of the Command, in synergy with Neighbourhood Watch Group personnel, on 14/08/2023 at about 1.10pm, raided suspected IPOB/ESN subversive criminal hideouts, at Nkpamte community in Igbo-Eze North LGA.
“One (1) locally fabricated double-barreled pistol loaded with one (1) live cartridge, components of a Pump Action gun, one (1) Medion laptop, eleven (11) assorted mobile phones and several phone charges.
“Meanwhile, an intensive manhunt is ongoing to apprehend the hoodlums, who escaped on sighting the Operatives”, he said.
Ndukwe noted that the arrest and other credible information-guided operations led to the rescue of the five abducted individuals and the recovery of three firearms with two live cartridges, one mini truck, a laptop, assorted phones, household items and goods, among other incriminating exhibits.
