Police arrest 123 criminal offenses in Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command has announced the arrest of 123 suspected criminals in the state in the space of two months.

The commissioner of police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, stated in a press conference in the state capital that the individuals were arrested with exhibits showing their participation in different criminal activities across the state. He explained that the crimes include vandalism, theft, illegal possession of firearms, and cultism. Other offences include kidnapping and armed robbery.

He noted that after the police investigations concluded, most suspects were taken to court and remanded in the Correctional Custodial Centres.

The commissioner of Police appreciated the residents of the state for relating to the police cryovial information that has led to the successful arrest of suspects in different parts of the state; he charged that such information should always be provided to help in the arrest of criminals in the state.

According to the commissioner, the total number of persons arrested stands at 123; while speaking on the number of persons rescued, the police head noted that nine kidnapped persons were rescued by the police during the period being reviewed.

Among the weapons collected from the suspects, the CP noted that 15 AK-47 and assault rifles were recovered, 25 Pump action guns 35, 710 live ammunition of different calibres, 187 live cartridges, 17 motor vehicles, tricycles, 11; the police also announced that eight motorcycles were collected from the suspects.

Speaking further, the police CP confirmed the killings of four policemen at a checkpoint by hoodlums in the state by some criminals. He debunked the claim made that some persons around the Enugu State College of Health Technology, Oji-River, killed some police officers.

He noted that the only incident that happened around the school was the rescue of three students who were kidnapped around the college on August 14, 2024. He explained that all the victims had been reunited with their families after the police rescued them.

The police chief confirmed that the suspects, who were believed to be the kidnappers the suspects, have been arrested and are currently undergoing interrogations. The police also confirmed the interrogation of the peddlers of the fake news after the police traced them, and it confirmed that the individuals had been apologising to the police.

In another success recorded by the police, the CP noted that the plans by the members of the terrorist group IPOB/ESN to cause mayhem at the 4-Corner, along the Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway, on August 18, 2024, was brought under control the men of the police in the state.

He explained that the militants had put on uniforms belonging to the security in a Lexus 350 Jeep, which was collected from a resident in the state; according to him, when the operatives saw the patrol van of the police, the suspect opened fire on the team of policemen.

The commissioner of police appreciated the governor of the state, under the leadership of His Excellency Dr Peter Mbah, who has given the go-ahead to destroy the house used to keep criminals in the state in the past years. He noted that such facilities have, in the past, aided the carrying out of criminal activities in the state.