The Enugu State Police Command has rescued a kidnapped female victim and neutralised one suspected kidnapper during a coordinated security operation in Udenu Local Government Area, reinforcing ongoing efforts to combat violent crime in the state.
The commandโs spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed in a statement issued in Enugu that the operation was carried out on Friday following credible intelligence on the abduction of the victim earlier that day.
According to the police, the victim was kidnapped at about 3:30 p.m. within Ezimo Community, prompting an immediate response from security agencies. Acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, the Divisional Police Officer of Udenu Division swiftly mobilised a joint task team to track down the perpetrators.
The team, comprising police operatives, personnel of the Nigerian Army, members of the Neighbourhood Watch, and Forest Guards, trailed the suspects to Agu Orba Forest along the Ohebe-Orba axis of the local government area. Upon arrival, the operatives encountered armed resistance as the suspects opened fire.
Security forces responded with superior firepower, resulting in the neutralisation of one of the suspects, while others reportedly fled the scene with varying degrees of gunshot wounds. The police said the fleeing suspects are currently being tracked as part of an ongoing manhunt.
The kidnapped victim was successfully rescued during the operation without injury. Authorities confirmed that she was debriefed and subsequently reunited with her family.
During the operation, security personnel recovered several items believed to belong to the suspects, including five rounds of live 7.62mm ammunition, a long machete, a short dagger, four mobile phones, and four torchlights.
Additional items recovered include two power banks, memory cards, a sum of N51,700 in cash, assorted food supplies, utensils, clothing materials, and face caps, suggesting the suspects may have been operating from a temporary hideout within the forest.
The police described the operation as a success made possible through timely intelligence and coordinated inter-agency collaboration. The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, commended the operatives for their bravery, professionalism, and effective teamwork in executing the mission.
He reiterated the commandโs commitment to eliminating criminal elements across the state and restoring public confidence in security operations. He also assured residents that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and dismantle the wider criminal network behind the abduction.
The police urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing credible and timely information, emphasizing that community cooperation remains critical in the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes.
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