The police in Enugu State, southeast Nigeria say they have arrested four criminal suspects for various offences ranging from conspiracy, burglary, vandalism, and unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition.
The state police command said the suspects were arrested between August 4 and 14 in various parts of the state.
A statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe on Wednesday, said the arrest of the suspects and other credible information-guided operations led to the rescue of five abducted individuals and the recovery of three firearms with two live cartridges, a mini truck, a laptop, phones, household items and goods, among other incriminating exhibits.
Giving a further breakdown, Ndukwe said that on August 8, operatives of Udenu Area Command of the State Command, working with other security personnel (names withheld), at about 3.30 pm, arrested one Chinemerem Ugwueze (male), 23, of Imilike-Enu in Udenu Local Government Area with one locally made double-barrelled pistol.
He said that a discreet investigation was still going on at the Firearm Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Enugu.
The PPRO also noted that on August 7, 2023, personnel from the 9th Mile Police Division in collaboration with troops of the Nigerian Army, at about 5 pm, rescued five male victims in a forest at Umulumgbe in Udi Council area.
According to Ndukwe, the victims were reportedly kidnapped on their way back from a traditional marriage at the Ukehe community in the Igbo-Etiti LGA.
"The victims have reunited with their families, while an intense manhunt operation is ongoing to fish out the fleeing suspects," the statement said.
The statement further read, "On 04/08/2023 at about 9.30 pm, operatives with the New Haven Police Division recovered a locally fabricated pistol loaded with a live cartridge, from fleeing suspects that attempted to abduct their male victim to an unknown destination.
"The victim, who had parked his car to make a call along Chime Avenue, Enugu, was accosted by the hoodlums operating in a Lexus Jeep, who forced him into their vehicle. He, however, summoned courage and disarmed one of the miscreants of the firearm, escaped and handed the pistol over to the Police.
"In a different development, police operatives serving in Abakaliki Road Police Division of the State Command, between July 14 and 24, 2023, arrested three suspects namely: Igwe Solomon, aged 25, Ikenna Aniekwe, aged 34, and Obasi Onyedika, aged 32, at different locations in Enugu metropolis, for conspiracy, vandalism and housebreaking, following the receipt of complaints and credible information."
Meanwhile, the command's spokesperson said that a preliminary investigation revealed that Igwe Solomon specialised in breaking into people’s houses and shops, from where he carted away valuable household items.
He reportedly sold the goods to Ikenna Aniekwe, who owns a shop at Kenyatta market, while Obasi Onyedika facilitates the conveyance of the items to the receiver.
"The exhibits recovered from them include 1 white coloured Dina vehicle with registration number: ENU 673 ZE, 5 Royal Air-Conditioners, 2 Chest Freezers, 6 Royal Air-conditioner Compressors, 2 generators, a 48-inches Samsung Television and a 50-inches LG Television each, 4 Gee-Pee water tanks, 8 pieces of water heaters, 12 iron burglary proofs, 2 iron windows and 7 pieces Water Closets," it said.
He, however, said the suspects would be arraigned in court upon completion of police investigations.
Ndukwe said the police commissioner, Ahmed Ammani, commended the operatives and all who supported them in carrying out the operations.