Police rescue four abdûcted victims, neutralise suspects in Enugu, Ogun operations

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to combating violent crimes, especially kidnapping, across the country.

This assurance follows a series of successful, intelligence-driven operations in Enugu and Ogun States, which led to the rescue of four kidnapped victims, the neutralisation of three armed suspects, multiple arrests, and the recovery of ransom money, firearms, and other incriminating evidence.

In Enugu State, on July 16, police operatives, working with local security outfits, swiftly responded to a distress call from the Okpuje-Ani community in Nsukka LGA regarding armed kidnappers in a forest area.

During the engagement, one armed suspect was neutralised, while others escaped with gunshot injuries. An AK-47 rifle loaded with two live rounds of ammunition was recovered from the scene.

The same day, the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad, acting on credible intelligence, arrested Aliyu Adamu (23) along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

According to a statement by the Police Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Adamu reportedly confessed to participating in several abductions and admitted to being brought from Awka, Anambra State, to carry out criminal operations in Enugu.

The statement reads:

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has once again reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force under his leadership to combatting all forms of violent crimes, particularly kidnapping, across the country. This assurance follows the successful outcomes of well coordinated and intelligence-driven operations carried out by police operatives in Enugu and Ogun States, which led to the rescue of four kidnapped victims, the neutralisation of three armed suspects, the arrest of multiple others, and the recovery of ransom money, firearms, and other incriminating exhibits.

“In Enugu State, on July 16, 2025, at about 3:00 p.m., police operatives working in synergy with local security outfits, responded swiftly to a distress call from the Okpuje-Ani community in Nsukka LGA, reporting sighting of armed kidnappers in a forest area. Upon engaging the operatives, one of the armed suspects was neutralised while others escaped into the bush with various degrees of gunshot injuries. Recovered at the scene was an AK-47 rifle loaded with two live rounds of ammunition. That same day, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad arrested one Aliyu Adamu, aged 23, along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, following credible intelligence. The suspect, upon interrogation, confessed to participating in several abductions and admitted to being invited from Awka, Anambra State, to carry out criminal operations in Enugu.

“In a related development, on July 15, 2025, at about 2:20 p.m., two female suspects, Juliet Chukwu (aged 39) and Nancy Chukwu (aged 40), were arrested by the Command’s operatives. They were apprehended during the sharing of a ₦10 million ransom collected from their kinsman, whom they had conspired to kidnap after initially demanding ₦50 million. The male victim was safely rescued unharmed, while their operational Toyota Corolla vehicle and the said ransom were recovered.

“Meanwhile, in Ogun State, a reported kidnapping incident involving three persons around the Ajebo axis under Owode Egba Division on July 16, 2025, triggered a swift deployment of tactical teams. Today, at about 04:00 am, the Anti-Kidnapping team with the aid of technology, identified the location of the kidnappers, engaged them in a shootout along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, during which two suspects were neutralised in the ensuing gun battle and successfully rescued all 3 kidnapped victims unhurt. Items recovered from the operation include: One AK-47 rifle, 139 rounds of ammunition, one magazine, one cutlass, a chain and padlock, the sum of ₦1,235,000, suspected to be part of the ransom, and several mobile phones used for negotiations.”