News
Military to partner Enugu Government on internal security
…Insecurity, big elephant in the room – Mbah
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has pledged military’s readiness and commitment to partnering with the Enugu State government towards the security of lives and property in the state.
This was even as the state governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, identified insecurity as the major obstacle to his administration’s agenda to raise the state’s economy from the present $4.4 billion to $30 billion.
General Irabor said the hierarchy of the Nigerian military services was impressed by the bold security measures so far taken by the governor, assuring that they would play their part in encouraging socio-economic development of the state by enhancing internal security.
The military chief stated this during a courtesy call on the governor and meeting with critical stakeholders at the Government House, Enugu, Tuesday.
He said he was in the state for a review of the impact of the security efforts of the military in the state.
“Your bold statement on security synchronises with our efforts towards ending insecurity. We came to appreciate you for that and to let you know that such steps fall within our purview and that every stakeholder will support it.
“We are here to assure you the armed forces and security agencies will give you all the needed support”, he said.
General Irabor appealed to the traditional rulers, civil society organisations (CSOs), town unions, and all stakeholders to work in synergy with the governor and security agencies to ensure the security of lives and property as no single body or individual could do it alone.
On his part, Governor Mbah, who identified insecurity as the big elephant in the room, however appreciated the Chief of Defence Staff and security agencies in the state for rising to the occasion in the state’s efforts to encourage productivity and enhance the security of lives and property.
“We promised our people that we are going to do things differently, growing our economy in an unprecedented way from $4.4 billion to $30 billion. But this requires making tough decisions.
“We identified the elephant in the room, being insecurity, and its impact, both psychologically, economically, and socially on our people.
“We can’t adopt the present financing model if we must grow the economy exponentially. It has to be private sector driven and one of the indicators of the Ease of Doing Business is security. We have to secure our state, ensure our people work five days in a week in order to convince them of our state’s viability.
“So, we are glad to have you and all the security agencies as our partner and you have assured us that your men will sustain the efforts to improve the security of lives and property in our state”, Mbah stated.
Also speaking, critical stakeholders, representatives, and leaders of various bodies, including the traditional institutions, labour, traders, religious institutions, CSOs, students, among others, while commending Mbah for his gallant efforts in shoring up security and productivity in the state, equally thanked the Chief of Defence Staff for all the assurances given.
They pledged to mobilise their members and subjects towards supporting the efforts to restore Monday as a working day, saying the inability to work on Mondays for some years had seriously affected the economic fortunes of their members and subjects.
“We have agreed amongst ourselves, as traders in Enugu State, to open our markets from 7:30am to 6pm daily, including Mondays.
“It is our duty too to make our people come out by sensitizing and educating them on the gains of working and trading on Mondays”, President, Enugu Amalgamated Traders Association, ASMATA, Comrade Stephen Aniagu, said.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, HRH Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, who restated the faith of the traditional rulers in the capacity of the Nigerian military to secure the country, reminded the Chief of Defence Staff that the Constitution did not vest powers and control over the armed forces on state governors, urging them to rise to the challenges of insecurity bedeviling the nation.
Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Emmanuel Ede reiterated the readiness of the Church to continue to partner with the Mbah administration and the security agencies to secure Enugu State.
The Enugu State Police Command has rescued a kidnapped woman and neutralised a suspected kidnapper during an intelligence-led operation in Okpuje, Nsukka Local Government Area of the state.
The operation, which took place on Friday, July 31, 2026, was launched after police received a distress call at about 10:10 a.m. reporting that armed kidnappers had emerged from a nearby forest and abducted a woman along Anuka Road, Okpuje.
According to a statement issued on Saturday, August 1, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, operatives of the Okpuje Police Division immediately mobilised alongside Forest Guards and members of the Neighbourhood Watch to trail the kidnappers.
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The security team tracked the suspects into the Anuka forest near the Enugu-Kogi State boundary, where they engaged the gang in a gun battle.Time & Calendars
During the exchange of gunfire, one of the suspected kidnappers was killed, while other members of the gang escaped into the forest with suspected gunshot wounds.
The police said the abducted woman was rescued unhurt, while her two children and motorcycle, which the kidnappers abandoned at the scene, were also recovered.
“The victim and her children have since been reunited with their family, while efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects,” the statement said.
Reacting to the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the police operatives, Forest Guards and Neighbourhood Watch members for their swift response and effective collaboration.
He reaffirmed the command’s determination to sustain intelligence-driven operations aimed at combating kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.
The police commissioner also urged residents to remain security conscious and continue supporting law enforcement agencies with credible and timely information.
CP Giwa said the command remains committed to protecting lives and property through proactive policing and strengthened collaboration with local security stakeholders.
Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued a kidnapped senior military officer, Lt. Col. Ofor Amobi, and a civilian, Mr Ikechukwu Onwuanra, after a 10-day joint search-and-rescue operation in Enugu State.
This is contained in a military operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.
The military said the victims were rescued in the early hours of Friday, following sustained pressure on their abductors.
The military said troops of Sector 1 of Operation UDO KA, comprising personnel of the 82 Division Garrison, 103 Battalion (Reinforced), the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service and the 197 Special Forces Battalion, carried out the operation.
It said the troops, led by the Commander, 82 Division Garrison, conducted intensive searches across Inyi, Awlaw and Akpugo-Eze forests and communities in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.
According to the report, troops received intelligence from the Divisional Police Officer of Inyi Division at about 2:00 a.m. on Friday on the whereabouts of the victims.
It said the troops immediately launched a fighting patrol to the location where the victims were found abandoned at the edge of a forest in Inyi.
The military said both victims had sustained gunshot wounds and were rescued before being evacuated to the 82 Division Medical Hospital for treatment and medical evaluation.
It added that preliminary interrogation revealed the victims had been blindfolded, transported to an unknown location and later abandoned within a forest along the Enugu-Anambra border.
“The victims attributed their rescue to the sustained pressure mounted by the joint troops, which denied the kidnappers freedom of movement and compelled them to abandon their captives,” it said.
The military said further details on the operation would be made available later.
(NAN)
Armed men have reportedly abducted a Catholic seminarian, Mr. Kelvin Ochai, after invading the residence of a Catholic bishop in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The attack reportedly occurred on Wednesday, July 29, when the gunmen stormed the Bishop’s residence located in the Asa III area of Otukpo, sparking concern within the Catholic community.
The incident was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday by the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Rev. Fr. Joseph Aboyi Itodo.
According to the statement, the kidnappers made away with the seminarian, Mr. Kelvin Ochai, while details surrounding the attack and the circumstances of his abduction remain unclear.
The Diocese disclosed that the Catholic Bishop of Otukpo, Most Rev. Michael Ekwoyi Apochi, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and called on members of the Church and the general public to pray for the seminarian’s safe return.
Describing the abduction as a painful development, the bishop appealed to all Christ’s faithful in the Diocese of Otukpo, as well as people of goodwill, to unite in prayer for the victim and others being held captive across the country.
“The Bishop, who is deeply saddened by this unfortunate development, calls on all Christ’s Faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo and all people of goodwill to earnestly pray for the seminarian’s quick and safe release,” the statement read.
The Diocese further entrusted the abducted seminarian and all other kidnapping victims in Nigeria to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“We commit our brother and all those in the kidnappers’ den throughout the country to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for their speedy and safe release from the hands of their abductors,” the statement added.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had not released an official statement on the attack, and it remains unclear whether contact has been established with the kidnappers or if any arrests have been made.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity in parts of Benue State and the increasing number of attacks targeting religious institutions and clerics, prompting renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect lives and property.
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