The Enugu State command of the Nigeria Police Force has announced the killing of a kidnapper and the rescue of four hostages in the state by its operatives.
The command’s spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, who disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday night, said the incident happened at about 10 am on Tuesday in a forest at Agbogazi-Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area.
Although the command has remained silent on the abduction of over 10 passengers en route from Enugu to Abuja on December 13, 2023, Ndukwe said the passengers had been rescued. He did not indicate how many were rescued or how the incident happened.
He said, “Police Operatives of Enugu State Command, serving in Hawk Tactical Squad, today, December 19, 2023, at about 10 a.m., swiftly responded to credible information and rescued four kidnapped victims (three males and one female) in a forest at Agbogazi-Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area, barely one hour after their kidnap.
“The hoodlums, upon sighting the Operatives, opened fire on them, but the gallant and tactful Operatives returned fire, neutralising one of the hoodlums (photograph withheld for ethical reasons), forcing others to escape with fatal gunshot wounds.
“One AK-47 rifle loaded with 19 rounds of live ammunition was recovered from them, while further manhunt operations to fish out the fleeing suspects are ongoing.”
He added, “Recall that Police Operatives of the Command, working with other security personnel, similarly rescued travellers alleged to have been kidnapped along Ette Road in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, en route to Abuja, on 13/12/2023.”
Ndukwe, quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, to have reiterated the avowed commitment of the Police to deal ruthlessly with unrepentant violent criminals and their activities in Enugu State.
Uzuegbu, according to him had commended the gallant efforts of the operatives and charged them to ensure that the fleeing miscreants were fished out, dead or alive.