…Ransoms, 4 AK-47 rifles and ammunition recovered

…Gov Mbah: You can’t get away with your crimes in Enugu

Security forces in Enugu State have successfully apprehended three perpetrators of the August 2, 2026 kidnap attack on St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Inoyi-Affa, Udi LGA, Enugu State, and also recovered ransoms during the operations.

This was even as one of the kidnap suspects was neutralised in a gun duel during the joint operation of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Army, Police, Enugu State Forest Guard, and others, which also saw to the recovery of four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of ammunition from the hideouts of the kidnapping syndicate.

Fielding questions from newsmen during the parade of the criminals at the state headquarters of the DSS in Enugu Monday evening, Governor Peter Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, added that the remaining two of the three victims of the August 2 attack, Seminarian Lawrence Igbo and Mr. Emmanuel Onwudi, had also regained their freedom.

Ransom recovered from the kidnappers

Mbah also revealed that ransom deployed as a strategy was fully recovered, noting that security agents tracked down the criminals by deploying the state’s hi-tech security assets.

He hailed the DSS, Army, Police, Forest Guards and other security agencies in the state, adding that the victims had equally identified the apprehended criminals as their abductors.

The governor assured the people that his administration would continue to prioritise and invest in the security of their lives and properties.

A member of the kidnap gang neutralized

“There was one fatality in this process. It was one of the criminals that died in the process of apprehending them. Usually, criminal elements will not want to be apprehended easily without a fight, but our people were ready, and we have one fatality, while the others are here now as you could see; and they will face the full wrath of the law.

“We made it very clear that if criminality becomes your venture, Enugu State is not the location to do that business; that we will pursue you, we will make sure we bring you to justice, and that was why we put the robust security architecture across the state, working in collaboration with the security forces to ensure that Enugu is uncomfortable for anybody that plans criminality, and you’re seeing that very clearly.

“We are intentional in investing in and organising our security architecture to prevent crime. But if there is a breach, you can run, but cannot hide for long. We must get you. You can’t commit these crimes in Enugu State and get away with it. No way,” he said.

He also warned locals who collude with the criminal elements or serve as their informants, vowing to come after them also.

“We will find you also, just as we have found these people, and we will prosecute you as part of this evil operation and this evil syndicate.

“Wherever you are, know that investigation is ongoing and that this government will track you down, and you will pay for your crimes in planning havoc on our citizens. So wherever you are, we are still coming for you,” he stressed.

He paid special tributes to the security forces for their cooperation and gallantry.

“We also want to very highly commend all the security agencies: the DSS, Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police, the Enugu State Forest Guard, the military services, others for being very instrumental in some of the work that was done, and continue to do in Enugu State,” he concluded.

The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has directed the immediate enforcement of all existing traffic laws and regulations across the State following what he described as the rampant disregard for traffic regulations by motorists.

The CP said the development has resulted in avoidable gridlock, disruption of traffic flow, road crashes, loss of lives and destruction of property.

The directive, according to the state police spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, ‘is in line with the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc (+), NPM, directive on the nationwide enforcement of traffic laws to restore order on Nigerian roads and safeguard lives and property.

“Accordingly, the Commissioner of Police has tasked the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, the Command’s Legal Officer and the State Traffic Officer to ensure the professional enforcement of the directive through the arrest and prosecution of offenders in accordance with extant laws and regulations.”

He, however, cautioned officers against any infringement on the rights and dignity of citizens while carrying out the enforcement.

CP Giwa urges all motorists, including police officers and other security personnel, to familiarise themselves with and strictly obey traffic laws to avoid arrest and prosecution.

He emphasized hat strict compliance with traffic regulations remained essential to reducing congestion, preventing road crashes, and ensuring the free flow of traffic across the State.

Suspected kidnappers have abducted an unspecified number of passengers travelling in three commercial buses along the Itobe-Achigili-Anyigba highway in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The incidents, according to local sources, occurred in two separate attacks within a two-hour interval on Sunday at locations believed to be close to each other along the highway.

The first attack reportedly occurred at about 4 pm between Ojuwo-Ajengo and Mamerebo settlements, when a Hummer bus belonging to a popular mass transit company, said to be travelling to Abuja from the eastern part of the country, was intercepted by the gunmen.

The second incident took place around 6 pm between Ojodu and Ojuwo-Olijo village, where a Sharon bus and a Sienna commercial vehicle, both reportedly on inter-state journeys, were attacked.

Sources said the gunmen barricaded the highway, forcing the vehicles to stop before ordering the occupants into the surrounding bush.

A local source said two mobile phones were recovered from the grass around one of the vehicles and subsequently handed over to security operatives.

The source said the first bus, identified as a Hummer belonging to Peace Mass Transit with fleet number 2838, was intercepted around 4 pm.

The two other vehicles, identified as a Sharon and a Sienna with registration numbers Kogi ERE 138 AE and BB 362 MKA, respectively, were reportedly ambushed around 6 pm.

“The armed men left with all the occupants of the three buses. The exact number of people abducted from each vehicle is not yet known and may only be established through the passengers’ manifests,” another source said.

Following the attacks, a joint security operation involving personnel of the Nigerian Army, police, local vigilantes and hunters was reportedly deployed to the area to search for the victims and track down the perpetrators.

When contacted for confirmation, the spokesperson for the Kogi State Police Command, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, said she would confirm the incident and respond. ( Nigerian Tribune)