The Enugu State Police Command has rescued a kidnapped woman, neutralised a suspected kidnapper and arrested five other suspects for alleged armed robbery, cultism and theft in separate operations across the state.
The operations also led to the recovery of a locally made pistol, an expended cartridge, offensive weapons, stolen property, vehicle batteries and other valuables.
In a statement on Saturday, August 1, 2026, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said operatives swiftly rescued the abducted woman following an intelligence-led operation in Okpuje, Nsukka Local Government Area.
According to him, the operation followed a distress call received at about 10:10 a.m. on July 31, reporting that armed kidnappers had emerged from a nearby forest and abducted a woman along Anuka Road in Okpuje.
He said the Divisional Police Officer of Okpuje Division immediately mobilised police operatives, Forest Guards and members of the Neighbourhood Watch, who tracked the kidnappers into the Anuka forest near the Enugu-Kogi State boundary.
“During the ensuing gun duel, one suspect was neutralised, while others fled with suspected gunshot injuries. The victim was rescued unhurt, while her two children and motorcycle, left behind by the kidnappers at the scene, were also secured,” the statement said.
The Command added that the woman and her children had since been reunited with their family, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing members of the gang.
In a separate operation, the Command said it arrested and prosecuted a 29-year-old suspect, Oshim Daniel, for allegedly stealing vehicle batteries and other valuables from residents of Alulu-Nike, Enugu.
The suspect, who was rescued from an angry mob by operatives of the Abakpa Division on July 29, was alleged to have committed the theft on July 28.
Police investigations established that he stole three vehicle batteries valued at ₦150,000, ₦45,000 and ₦32,000, respectively.
Operatives also recovered a public address system, a Point-of-Sale (POS) device, a gas cylinder, a vehicle stereo system, a spare tyre and other suspected stolen items linked to him.
According to the police, the suspect confessed to the offences and was arraigned before an Enugu State Magistrate Court on three counts of stealing contrary to the Criminal Code of Enugu State, 2004. He was subsequently remanded in a correctional custodial centre pending further proceedings.
The Command also announced the arrest of four other suspects, comprising two alleged armed robbers and two suspected cultists, in separate operations.
It said operatives of the Anti-Cultism Sub-Unit of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), acting on the confessional statement of 20-year-old Okafor Timothy, arrested his alleged accomplice, Ndubuisi Chigozie, alias “Sky B”, aged 24, on July 27.
Police alleged that the two suspects, believed to be members of the Black Axe Confraternity, robbed a victim of a Samsung A12 mobile phone at a hotel in Independence Layout, Enugu, while another victim sustained an injury to a finger during the attack.
Recovered from the suspects were the stolen mobile phone, a knife and a pick-handle axe.
In another operation carried out on July 26 in Ukehe, Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, police operatives, acting on credible intelligence and with support from residents, arrested Chibuike Stanley Odoh, 20, and Ezekiel Ozoeze, 30.
The suspects allegedly confessed to being members of the Aye Confraternity.
A locally made pistol and one expended cartridge were recovered from them.
The police said investigations were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects connected with the cases and recover additional exhibits, adding that all suspects arrested in the armed robbery and cultism cases would be arraigned upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the police operatives, Forest Guards, Neighbourhood Watch members and law-abiding residents for their cooperation and prompt response to the various operations.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and urged residents to continue providing credible and timely information to the police.
The Commissioner also advised members of the public against jungle justice, urging them to hand over arrested suspects to the police for proper investigation and prosecution.
He further encouraged vehicle owners to secure their vehicles with effective anti-theft devices and register them on the Nigeria Police Electronic Central Motor Registry (e-CMR) to enhance vehicle security and facilitate the recovery of stolen vehicles.
