Enugu Police Kill Two Kidnappers, Recover AK-47 Rifle, Beretta Pistol in Separate Raids
Police operatives of Enugu Police Command have foiled a kidnapping attempt, killed two suspected kidnappers and recovered weapons in two separate operations in Enugu State. The operatives recovered three firearms, including an AK-47 rifle, a Beretta pistol, and locally fabricated double-barreled pistols, two magazines loaded with thirty rounds of 7.62mm calibre ammunition, one live cartridge, phones, and other incriminating exhibits during the operations, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the spokesperson for Enugu Police Command, said in a statement on Tuesday.
The command said the operations, carried out on May 30, 2026, were part of its sustained offensive against violent crimes and criminal elements operating within the state. In one of the operations, Ndukwe said police operatives on May 30, 2026, received intelligence that a gang of about five armed men were attempting to kidnap an individual along the Nowas–Abakpa Road axis of Enugu. The first operation occurred at about 8:30 p.m.
He added that police operatives attached to the Command’s Trans-Ekulu Division working with members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, swiftly responded and encountered the suspects, who opened fire on them. “The operatives responded with precision and fatally immobilised one of the suspects, while others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot injuries. The suspect was immediately taken to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead by the attending doctor. One AK-47 rifle, two magazines loaded with thirty rounds of live 7.62mm ammunition, and two mobile phones were recovered from the neutralised suspect,” he said.
The spokesperson said further intelligence-led operations by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Sub-Unit of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) led to the recovery of a Beretta pistol connected to the criminal gang. Ndukwe added that on the same date at about 9:19 p.m., information was received that a gang of armed robbers had invaded the residence of a man in Owo Community, Nkanu East Local Government Area, and were robbing him of his personal belongings.
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“Police operatives attached to the Amechi-Idodo Division, in conjunction with members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, immediately mobilised to the scene and engaged the suspects. Upon sighting the operatives, the criminal suspects opened fire on the team. The operatives responded and neutralised one of the suspects, while others fled with varying degrees of gunshot injuries. One locally made double-barreled pistol loaded with one live cartridge was recovered from the neutralised suspect,” Ndukwe said.
Ndukwe said operational efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects and recover additional exhibits, while investigations into both incidents are ongoing. “The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa has commended the operatives and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group for their bravery, professionalism, and prompt response. He reiterated the Command’s firm resolve to protecting lives and property and urged citizens to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies to enhance public safety,” the spokesperson said.
CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa has also emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration among security agencies as a critical requirement for effective security and public safety. While recently receiving the new Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Enugu State Command, the police commissioner stressed that intelligence sharing, operational collaboration, and mutual support among sister security agencies remain paramount to combating crime and sustaining peace and security in Enugu State.
The Commissioner of Police has also called on operatives of the command to “police with human face and respect for human rights” during an interactive town hall meeting with security stakeholders and citizens. He urged his personnel to operate with utmost professionalism and firmness, adding that police operatives on stop-and-search duties are not permitted to intimidate, harass or search the phones of citizens without investigative justification.
Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government has dismissed as false and misleading reports circulating on social media platforms alleging that innocent citizens were attacked in Awgu, Awgu Council Area of the state. The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr Malachy Agbo, disclosed in a statement on Monday that no such incident occurred anywhere in Awgu or any other part of the state, describing the report as a fabrication deliberately concocted by individuals seeking to misinform the public and create unnecessary panic. Agbo urged members of the public to disregard the misinformation and refrain from spreading unverified claims capable of causing fear and confusion among citizens. He reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property, emphasising that the safety and well-being of Enugu people remained central to Gov. Peter Mbah’s transformational development agenda.
The successful operations have been widely praised by residents and security analysts, who note that the combination of intelligence-led policing, collaboration with local Neighbourhood Watch Groups, and sustained pressure on criminal networks is yielding positive results in the fight against kidnapping and armed robbery in Enugu State. The police command has urged citizens to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies to enhance public safety across the state.