Three suspects linked to the abduction of three persons — including a seminarian in Enugu, have been arrested.
The kidnapping occurred during morning mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Inoyi, in the Affa community of Udi LGA, Enugu state, on August 2 (read here).
One of the suspects was k!lled during a gun duel with security operatives in a joint operation involving the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army, police, Enugu state forest guards and other security agencies.
The operation also led to the recovery of four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of ammunition from the hideouts of the kidnapping syndicate.
Peter Mbah, Enugu governor, who was represented by Chidiebere Onyia, secretary to the state government, during the parade of the suspects at the DSS headquarters in Enugu on Monday evening, August 10, said the two remaining victims, Lawrence Igbo, a seminarian, and Emmanuel Onwudi, had regained freedom.
Mbah said the ransom handed to the kidnappers was fully recovered, adding that security operatives tracked the suspects with hi-tech security assets.
He commended the DSS, army, police, forest guards and other security agencies for their roles in the operation, noting that the victims had also identified the suspects as their abductors.
“There was one fatality in this process. It was one of the criminals that died in the process of apprehending them,” Mbah said.
“Usually, criminal elements will not want to be apprehended easily without a fight, but our people were ready, and we have one fatality, while the others are here now as you could see; and they will face the full wrath of the law.
“We made it very clear that if criminality becomes your venture, Enugu state is not the location to do that business; that we will pursue you, we will make sure we bring you to justice, and that was why we put the robust security architecture across the state, working in collaboration with the security forces to ensure that Enugu is uncomfortable for anybody that plans criminality, and you’re seeing that very clearly.
“We are intentional in investing in and organising our security architecture to prevent crime. But if there is a breach, you can run, but cannot hide for long. We must get you. You can’t commit these crimes in Enugu State and get away with it. No way.”
Mbah also warned residents who collaborate with criminal elements or provide them with information, saying the government would track them down and prosecute them.
He said investigations into the activities of the criminal syndicate were ongoing and vowed that those involved in planning attacks on residents would face justice.
The governor also commended the security agencies for their cooperation and contributions to operations in the state.