The Enugu State Police Command’s operatives serving in Ezinze Police Division, complemented by the Neighbourhood Watch Group, on March 31, 2024, at about 6:15 p.m., rescued victims earlier kidnapped on the same date, at about 4:55 p.m., along Eke/Ebe Road in Udi Local Government Area.
The victims were rescued after a fierce gun battle with the abductors, who abandoned the victims and fled.
The State Police spokesman, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Daniel Ndukwe said: “The immediate rescue is due to the team’s swift response upon receipt of information alleging that the victims, who were plying the road in two Mercedes Benz 4Matic Jeeps, were attacked and abducted into the forest.
“However, further operations to hunt down the abductors are ongoing.”
The Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, has condemned the viral video, alleging that another police team that further responded to the incident, but without clear knowledge of the location of the first responding team, refused to go into the forest to rescue the same victims.
“This is even when the operatives had only arrived at the scene and were awaiting necessary intelligence guidance before proceeding into the forest, to avoid any form of collateral damage.
“The Commissioner further describes the allegations contained in the viral video as an unfortunate act of mischief that is aimed at maligning and detracting the police from frontally tackling and purging Enugu State of diehard criminals and their activities.
“He also emphasizes that the video was, without doubt, a gimmick intended to misinform and mislead the public, stressing that the command will, however, not waver in its quest to rid Enugu State of unrepentant criminals and their activities despite the mischievous detraction.”
