Police apprehend 123 suspects in Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command announced on Thursday that it had apprehended a total of 123 suspects between July and August of this year.

The arrests were made in connection with various crimes, including murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, vandalism, theft, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and cultism.

During a press conference at the Command’s Headquarters, State Commissioner of Police Kanayo Uzuegbu revealed that numerous incriminating exhibits were seized during the operations that took place across the state.

Uzuegbu further stated that many of the suspects have been charged and remanded in custody at the Nigerian Correctional Custodial Centres.

While commending the residents of the state for providing the command information, he still appealed they shouldn’t relent timely and actionable information will help the command to provide better security for all in the state.

A breakdown of the arrests shows that 123 suspects were apprehended and 19 victims of kidnapping and abduction were rescued during the period in question.

He said, “AK-47 and assault rifles recovered -15, Pump action guns recovered – 25, other firearms recovered – 35, live ammunition of different calibres recovered – 710, live cartridges recovered – 187, motor vehicles recovered – 17, tricycles recovered – 11, motorcycles recovered – 8,” the crime summary report indicated.

While confirming the attack on the police checkpoint where four policemen were killed by hoodlums, he, however, refuted the purported kidnapping of some persons around the Enugu State College of Health Technology, Oji-River.

He stated, “Rather, the four persons, three of whom were not students of the school, allegedly kidnapped around the College on August 14, 2024, have all been rescued and reunited with their families.

“Meanwhile, be informed that the suspects involved have been arrested and are undergoing interrogation.

“Also, the peddler of the unwarranted panic news on the incident has been traced and he has been apologizing for the mischievous act.

“Similarly, the sinister plans of the IPOB/ESN secessionist renegades to attack the police operatives and cause collateral damage at 4-Corner, along the Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway, on August 18, 2024, were squarely thwarted by the operatives.

“The militants, dressed in security forces uniforms and operating in a snatched Lexus 350 Jeep, suddenly opened fire on the patrol team on approaching the operatives.”

Uzuegbu commended the Enugu State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, “for taking the bold and pragmatic steps of demolishing houses and facilities used in harbouring and perpetrating acts of abduction and kidnapping in the State.

“Therefore, I call on citizens of Enugu State, particularly landlords, hoteliers, and owners of uncompleted buildings to be mindful of who they accommodate in such structures.”

“This is to ensure that they do not harbour criminals whose activities could bring about the demolition of their building facilities.”

While providing further details on the arrests made within the period, the Police Commissioner said, “Yesterday, August 21, 2024, at about 5 p.m., Police Operatives serving in the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad recovered an AK-47 rifle at New Artisan, Enugu.”