Four Kidnapped Victims Saved In Aishi-Ette Forest, Enugu State

In a successful joint operation, the Enugu State Police Command, along with the State Forest Guard and Neighbourhood Watch Group, rescued four individuals who had been kidnapped in a forest at Aishi-Ette, located in the Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the state.

The daring rescue mission took place on Sunday, and the victims, consisting of two males and two females, were saved following a fierce gun battle with their abductors.

According to a statement released by DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the spokesperson for the Enugu State Police Command, the kidnappers sustained various gunshot wounds during the exchange of fire, which forced them to abandon their captives and flee the scene.

Regrettably, one of the victims suffered a gunshot wound to the left thigh during the confrontation. However, immediate medical attention was provided, and the injured individual is currently in stable condition and responding well to treatment.

The incident occurred when the victims were reported to have been kidnapped at Umuopu village along the Ette/Ogugu Road on June 23, 2023, at approximately 9:30 pm. They were traveling from Ankpa, Kogi State, to Obollo-Afor, Enugu State when the hoodlums intercepted them. The abductors demanded a ransom of N10,000,000.00 for each of the victims.

Commending the rescue team, Enugu State’s Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ammani, acknowledged their effective implementation of the strategies devised to combat abduction and kidnapping cases in the state. He also praised the team’s adherence to his prior directive, which involved a substantial deployment of personnel and operational resources throughout the region.

DSP Ndukwe relayed the commissioner’s message, stating, “The CP has urged members of the public, especially owners of medical facilities, to report anyone sighted with gunshot injuries to the nearest Police Station for necessary action, in accordance with the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017.” The command’s spokesman reiterated the commitment of the Enugu State Police Command to relentless efforts in eliminating criminal elements within the state.