Wednesday, August 21, 2024 -Over 30 suspected kidnappers, including members of the Biafra Auto Pilot, also known as Unknown Gunmen, a notorious breakaway faction of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) loyal to the Finland based, Simon Ekpa, which terrorised Enugu and its environs had been gunned down in shoot-outs with security operatives at various locations across the state in the past two weeks, a police detective has disclosed.
This was contained in a statement issued on
Wednesday, August 21, 2024, by Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah’s media office.
The statement quoted a Police
Superintendent, SP Onochie Ezeh, who led a joint security operation to rescue
some kidnap victims at Ugwuogo Nike-Opi Road in the early hours of Wednesday.
The operation led to the k!lling of a
seven-man gang of kidnappers at Ogbeke Nike where the kidnappers used a large
poultry farm to hide their hostages.
The police chief explained that Wednesday’s
successful operation was part of the sustained operations in the state to flush
out criminals operating from other neighbouring states, including kidnappers,
unknown gunmen and other unscrupulous elements.
“We were on the trail of these kidnappers
for more than three months now. They had been operating within this axis where
they kidnapped their victims and kept them at a large poultry farm at Ogbeke
Nike until ransoms were paid,” he stated.
“So, on a tipoff 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 our superior firepower.”
Speaking further, SP Ezeh disclosed that
the combined security task force, set up by Governor Mbah, as a tactical squad
against kidnappings and activities of unknown gunmen, had recorded milestones
in policing the state and flushing out criminal elements
“This is a gallant crack squad with the
mandate to eliminate every form of threat in 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 tell you that we have already
neutralized over 7 criminal gangs who were mostly kidnappers and unknown
gunmen. We are going after them. We are taking the battle to their doorsteps
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 that serve as rogue premises
where kidnap victims and dangerous weapons are kept. These places include the
New Artisan Market, Akwuke community, Akegbe-Ugwu, Four Corners, Awgu, Mgbowo,
Emene, Eke and Afa in Udi and some parts of Isi Uzo local government. During
rescue operations, we were able to neutralize over 30 of the kidnappers and
recovered guns and valuables,” the police chief added.
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