Enugu Police Command's spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, who disclosed this on Thursday, also said that a manhunt had been launched for the other members of the kidnap gang.
The Nigeria Police Force says it has arrested nine kidnap suspects and rescued three victims in Enugu State.
Enugu Police Command's spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, who disclosed this on Thursday, also said that a manhunt had been launched for the other members of the kidnap gang.
He said police officers have been deployed to rescue the passengers including students of the University of Nigeria Nsukka who were abducted on Sunday along Nike-Opi-Nsukka Road while returning to campus.
SaharaReporters reported that the students and other passengers whose number was yet to be ascertained were travelling on five commuter buses before they attacked a few metres away from a military checkpoint. Some of them escaped while others were abducted by kidnappers suspected to Fulani herdsmen who had made the road a nightmare in the last four years.
However, reacting to the incident in a statement issued on Thursday, titled "Alleged abduction: Enugu CP orders adequate emplacement of security along Ugwuogo-Nike/Opi/Nsukka road, rescue of alleged abducted victims and arrest of culprits," Ndukwe said the command has deployed security assets to rescue the victims.
He said, "Following the receipt of the report of alleged attack and abduction of some travellers at Agu-Ekwegbe community axis of Ugwuogo-Nike/Opi/Nsukka highway, in the evening hours of 23/10/2022, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Ahmed Ammani, fdc, has ordered the maximum deployment of operational and intelligence resources of the Command to ensure adequate security on the said road, rescue unascertained number of persons allegedly abducted and arrest the hoodlums.
"Consequently, the Commissioner has reassured users of the said road and the citizenry of the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensure that their security and safety are maximally maintained, while categorically stating that onslaught on unrepentant criminal elements in the State shall be sustained.
"Meanwhile, Police Operatives of the Command serving at Independence Layout Police Division, on 20/10/2022 at about 2.30 pm, arrested three (3) kidnapping suspects namely: Chidi Jobbison (male) aged 24, Emmanuel Ogbu (m) aged 25 and Ogochukwu Nweke (f) aged 17, at Nkwo in Ugwuaji community of Enugu South LGA, and rescued their male kidnapped victim."
Ndukwe explained that the arrest followed a swift response by operatives after receiving credible information alleging the trio and other members of their gang had abducted the said victim from his house and taken him to a bush in Ugwuaji. The abductors were said to have collected a ransom of N650,00.00, through a POS operator.
According to him, the police clamped down on them, arrested the suspects and recovered a yellow-coloured Suzuki minibus with Reg. No. UKP 270 YP and two (2) masks which they operate with.
"Similarly, Police Operatives serving at Udenu Police Division of the Command, on 16/10/2022 at about 1.25pm, promptly responded to a distress call and arrested six kidnapping suspects and rescued two of their victims, at Igbokwube Village, Amalla community in Udenu local government area.
"The suspects include Okechi Chijioke (male) aged 29 and Ugwu Christiana (f) aged 24 (principal suspects), Ndidi Ekwueme (female) aged 27 (jujuist), Chinwe Okoro (female) aged 35 (ransom receiver), Nwabueze Friday (male) aged 26 (tricyclist) and Titus Ekeh (male) aged 70 (provider of accommodation used for keeping the kidnapped victims)."
"Ongoing investigation reveals that the male principal suspect lured the victims through Facebook, with the promise of selling cheap clothes and bags to them. But instead, took them to the said location working with his cohorts, and obtained a combined ransom of N500,000.00 without releasing them, before they were apprehended and the victims rescued."
Items recovered from them include “one Dane gun, one mock gun, one tricycle, one gas burner, one 8-inches Winco foam, four bags containing clothing materials and other incriminating items”.
The police spokesperson, however, added that the suspects will be arraigned in court after investigations have been concluded.