Enugu: Police rescue 4 abducted victims after overrunning gunmen

The police in Enugu say they have rescued Four kidnapped victims from a forest at Aishi-Ette community in Igbo-Eze North LGA of the South East state.

The successful rescue operation was carried out by police operatives serving in Igbo-Eze North Division on Sunday, Daniel Ndukwe, the command’s spokesman said in a statement on Sunday.

He disclosed that the operatives were assisted by Forest Guards and Neighbourhood Watch Group.

The victims, two males and two females, names withheld, were rescued after an intense gunfight with the kidnappers in the forest.

He said the gunmen had to abandon the victims after they were overwhelmed by the officers.

“The kidnappers, most of whom escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds, abandoned the victims due to the superior firepower of the police operatives,” Mr Ndukwe said.

“However, one of the victims sustained a gunshot wound in his left thigh during the gun duel, but was moved to the hospital.

“The injured victim is responding to treatment and in stable condition; others and all the police operatives returned unscathed,” he added.

The victims were reported to have been kidnapped at Umuopu village, along Ette/Ogugu Road, on June 23 at about 9:30 p.m., on their way to Obollo-Afor, Enugu State, from Ankpa, Kogi State.

“The hoodlums had earlier demanded ransom of N10 million for each of them,” he said.

Mr Ndukwe said that the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ammani, had commended the team for acting on the strategies devised and adhering to his earlier order to contain criminal cases of kidnapping in the state.

He said, “I charge all police operatives to remain focused and sustain the onslaught against criminal elements and police will never rest on their oars until the state is rid of unrepentant criminals and their activities.

“To this end, I urge 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”.