30 Killed As Enugu Govt, Security Agencies Take Battle To Kidnappers Den

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

No fewer than seven daredevil kidnappers were early Wednesday morning August 21, 2024, gunned down by a crack team of Security Operatives in Ogbeke Nike area of Enugu State.

This is even as a  concerned citizen and senior member of the Bar, Chief Ani, has urged the Enugu State authorities to immediately activate the 2016 criminal law to  demolish all identified dens of kidnappers and hostage holding cells  in the  State.

A statement on Wednesday from the Enugu State Governor’s media team said about 30  kidnap kingpins have so far been neutralized in the last two weeks in  coordinated operations

Most of the neutralized kidnappers were, allegedly, members of the dreaded Autopilots armed group of the Simon Ekpa-led faction of the Indigenous peoples of Biafra IPOB.

The statement quoted Onochie Ezeh, SP, the leader of the Special Security Outfit detailed to go all out against the kidnappers as saying that the pre-dawn Wednesday’s operation was specifically launched at a large, but abandoned, poultry farm used as both a hide out and dumping ground for abductees.

Ezeh noted that Wednesday’s operation was part of a sustained and well coordinated onslaught against criminal elements who have been terrorizing Enugu residents for some time now.

“We have been on the trail of these kidnappers for more than three months now. They had been operating within the axis where they kidnapped their victims and kept them  at a large poultry farm in Ogbeke Nike until ransoms are paid.

“So, on a tip off from members of the public who suspected the strange movements in the area, and the accounts of some of the victims of these criminals, we swung into action.

“On sighting us, these men of the underworld opened fire on my men and we quickly retaliated and overpowered them with superior firearm.

“This is a gallant crack squad with the mandate to eliminate every form of threat to the State. We have recorded huge successes over the past months.

“You know our role is not to rush to the media to tell our story ,but to ensure that every citizen and resident of the state has peace .

“I can assure  you that we have already neutralized over seven criminal gangs who are mostly kidnappers and unknown gunmen.

“We are going after them .We are taking the battle to their door steps because the Governor said we should not come back home if we don’t completely rid the state of threats.

“So, we are on it. In fact, during our operations, we identified many criminal hideouts where kidnap- victims and dangerous weapons are kept.

“These places include the New Artisan Market, Akwute Community Akegbe-Ugwu, Mgbowo,Emene, Eke and Afa in Udi and some parts of Isi Uzo Local Government Area.

“During rescue operations, we were able to neutralize over 30 of the kidnappers and recovered guns and valuables”, the statement further quoted Ezeh as saying.

However, in the face of the harrowing experiences being faced by many residents as a result of the dastardly acts of kidnappers, most Enugu residents, according to the statement, have called on Governor Peter Mba to wield the big stick .

Chief Iheanacho, while addressing the media on Wednesday, on the security situation, noted that the 2016 criminal law of the state as amended empowers the Governor to demolish any structure found to be used for kidnappings operations .

“We cannot continue like this. Yes, beyond going after the criminals, the Governor must show both political and legal courage to go after properties being used as hostage-holding cells and bring them down irrespective of who the owners are.

“The state must deter these criminals and those enabling their access to such buildings. That is what justice is all about.

“It is justice to the kidnap-victims; justice to the family of the victims, and  justice to the society at large” the Governor’s media team statement quoted Chief Iheanacho as saying.

At the time of going to, a Government demolition squad was already at the Poultry premises bringing down every structure.