Enugu Police Bust Interstate Kidnap Gang, Arrest 14 Suspects Over N30Million, $98,700 Ransom Operations | Sahara Reporters
According to the police commissioner, the suspects belong to organised criminal networks operating across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kwara and Taraba states.
The Enugu State Police Command has uncovered an interstate kidnapping syndicate whose members travelled from at least seven states to carry out abductions in Enugu before returning to their bases.
The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, who disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists at the Command Headquarters in Enugu, said 14 suspects linked to the multiple kidnappings, murder and over ₦30 million and nearly $100,000 in ransom payments have been arrested.
Giwa stated that the arrests follow months of intelligence-led operations involving police operatives and other security agencies, including State Neighbourhood Watch.
According to the police commissioner, the suspects belong to organised criminal networks operating across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kwara and Taraba states.
He said investigations revealed that the suspects routinely converged in Enugu State to plan and execute kidnappings before returning to their respective states to evade arrest.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspects are members of an organised criminal network operating from different parts of the country. They converge in Enugu State to plan and execute kidnapping operations before returning to their respective locations,” Giwa said.
The police commissioner further disclosed that the gang relied on local collaborators to facilitate its operations.
According to him, an Enugu-based commercial tricycle operator transported gang members, firearms and other operational equipment to and from their targets, while another local accomplice supplied intelligence that enabled the syndicate to identify potential victims and avoid security surveillance.
He said, “The network is aided by an Enugu-based member who operates a tricycle and provides transportation for the gang members, their firearms and other criminal implements to and from operational locations.
“Another Enugu-based member provides intelligence that enables the gang to evade security surveillance and identify suitable targets and locations.”
Giwa, claimed that the suspects confessed during interrogation to participating in numerous kidnapping operations across Enugu State, including attacks along the Enugu–Ugwuogo–Opi–Nsukka Road, Obioma–9th Mile–Umulumgbe–Ukpatu Road, the Eke–Affa–Egede–Ezinze axis and several communities in Ezeagu Local Government Area.
He listed several major kidnapping operations allegedly linked to the syndicate.
According to him, the suspects abducted a man at Mgbabuowa/Aguobuowa in Ezeagu Local Government Area on May 25, 2026, collecting ₦5.5 million before releasing him.
He also said they were responsible for the May 9, 2026 attack at Obioma in Udi Local Government Area, during which two men were kidnapped while a female victim was shot dead.
Police said the gang allegedly received $28,700 in ransom from that operation.
The commissioner added that the suspects were equally linked to the April 10 kidnapping of two victims along the Eke-Ezinze Road in Udi Local Government Area, where they allegedly collected $70,000 in ransom.
Another incident, according to Giwa, involved the abduction of seven victims at Obinaofia in Ezeagu Local Government Area on April 12, 2026.
He said the gang collected ₦25 million before releasing the victims.
“These are in addition to other kidnapping incidents and ransom payments which the suspects have disclosed during interrogation,” he said.
The latest arrests also include suspects linked to the kidnapping of worshippers at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Inoyi-Affa, Udi Local Government Area.
Giwa recalled that security operatives had earlier rescued one of the church kidnapping victims before launching follow-up operations that led to the rescue of the remaining captives.
“Further joint, intelligence-led operations subsequently led to the rescue of the remaining two victims, the arrest of three suspects, the neutralisation of one suspect, and the recovery of ransom money, firearms, ammunition and other incriminating exhibits,” he said.
The police commissioner disclosed that two additional suspects connected to the church attack fled Enugu after security operatives intensified the manhunt.
According to him, they escaped to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where they allegedly regrouped with other gang members and carried out another kidnapping.
He added, “Further intelligence-led operations by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Violent Crime Response Unit led to the arrest of two additional male suspects linked to the Affa Church kidnapping.
“The duo, who fled to Port Harcourt following the operational pressure mounted by joint security operatives, were traced and arrested in Port Harcourt and brought back to Enugu.”
“Preliminary investigation reveals that, after fleeing Enugu, the suspects regrouped with their cohorts in Port Harcourt and abducted another victim, who was released after a ransom of ₦5 million was paid,” he stated.
Giwa said the Command had earlier rescued kidnapped victims during separate operations in Ogbozara Community in Nsukka Local Government Area and Owukpa Community in Benue State’s Ogbadibo Local Government Area.
The operations, he noted, also resulted in the recovery of live ammunition and other exhibits.
Police said investigations into the financial activities of the syndicate showed that proceeds from kidnappings were laundered through investments and extravagant spending.
“Investigation has further revealed that the suspects laundered and concealed proceeds of their criminal activities through investments in livestock and different properties, lavish spending and other conspicuous consumption, as well as leisure and overseas trips, including trips to neighbouring countries such as Cameroon,” Giwa said.
The Command displayed a cache of weapons allegedly recovered from the suspects, including five AK-47 rifles, two pump-action guns, one locally fabricated firearm, 310 rounds of live 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, eight live cartridges and seven empty AK-47 magazines.
The commissioner said investigations were continuing to identify additional members of the criminal network, recover more firearms and trace other proceeds of crime.
He added that all suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Giwa attributed the breakthrough to sustained intelligence gathering, ICT-driven investigations, collaboration among security agencies and inter-state cooperation.
He assured residents that the police would sustain aggressive operations against kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, rape, cultism and other violent crimes.