The Enugu State Police Command on Thursday announced the arrest of 5,176 suspects for major crimes, including kidnapping, armed robbery, and murder, over the past six months.
In a press briefing detailing the Command’s successes, Commissioner of Police Mamman Bitrus Giwa revealed that operations also led to the rescue of 113 abducted victims and the recovery of 105 assorted firearms.
Addressing journalists at the State Command Headquarters, CP Giwa, who assumed office on March 11, 2025, outlined his strategic direction, which is anchored on professionalism, proactive measures, and people-friendly policing. He attributed the Command’s achievements to this model and reiterated his zero-tolerance stance on corruption, extortion, and unprofessional conduct among officers.
Providing a breakdown of the arrests, the Commissioner reported that between March and September 2025, 98 suspects were apprehended for armed robbery, 87 for kidnapping, 50 for murder, and 112 for cultism-related crimes. A total of 4,792 suspects were arrested for other serious offenses such as stealing, human trafficking, and vandalism. In addition to the recovered firearms, 271 rounds of ammunition and 71 stolen vehicles were also retrieved.
Among the high-profile cases successfully cracked was the arrest of two sisters who allegedly kidnapped their kinsman and collected a ransom of , which was fully recovered. Other notable successes included the apprehension of a teenager for the kidnap and murder of his young cousin, the swift arrest of a suspect who murdered his girlfriend in a hotel, and the dismantling of several human trafficking syndicates.
The Commissioner highlighted key proactive successes, including the incident-free security management of the 2025 Nigerian Bar Association Conference, which was attended by over 20,000 participants. He also noted that the deployment of joint security teams had restored relative peace to herder-farmer dispute hotspots in Isi-Uzo and Uzo-Uwani LGAs. Furthermore, intelligence-driven policing led to a marked reduction in violent activities linked to secessionist agitation.
As the state enters the “Ember Months,” a period historically associated with increased crime, CP Giwa assured the public that the Command has intensified operational strategies to ensure safety and security.
He concluded by expressing gratitude to the Inspector-General of Police, the Governor of Enugu State, sister security agencies, and law-abiding citizens for their support, calling for continued collaboration to sustain peace in the state.
