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Enugu Police Arrest 123 Suspects, Recover 972 Arms, Ammunition, 17 Vehicles

Published

1 year ago

August 22, 2024

Editor

The Enugu State Police Command, on Thursday, announced that it arrested a total of 123 suspects within July and August this year.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu during a parade of some of the suspects at the state command headquarters.

He told journalists that several incriminating exhibits were recovered during the operations, while many of the suspects have been arraigned in court and remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Custodial Centres.

DAILY POST reports that a summary of the feat achieved by the police within the period showed that while 123 suspects were arrested, 19 abducted/kidnapped victims were rescued.

“AK-47 and assault rifles recovered -15, Pump action guns recovered – 25, other firearms recovered – 35, live ammunition of different calibres recovered – 710, live cartridges recovered – 187, motor vehicles recovered – 17, tricycles recovered – 11, motorcycles recovered – 8,” the crime summary report indicated.

The CP also used the opportunity to dispel the rumoured kidnapping of some persons around the Enugu State College of Health Technology, Oji-River.

He said, “Rather, the four persons, three of whom were not students of the school, allegedly kidnapped around the College on August 14, 2024, have all been rescued and reunited with their families.

“Meanwhile, be informed that the suspects involved have been arrested and are undergoing interrogation.

“Also, the peddler of the unwarranted panic news on the incident has been traced and he has been apologizing for the mischievous act.

“Similarly, the sinister plans of the IPOB/ESN secessionist renegades to attack the police operatives and cause collateral damage at 4-Corner, along the Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway, on August 18, 2024, were squarely thwarted by the operatives.

“The militants, dressed in security forces uniforms and operating in a snatched Lexus 350 Jeep, suddenly opened fire on the patrol team on approaching the operatives.

“However, the operatives returned fire-for-fire and immobilized the Lexus Jeep, forcing the hoodlums to snatch a Toyota Camry car and escape the scene with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.

“Unfortunately, a Special Constabulary performing traffic control duty on the said road undergoing reconstruction, paid the supreme price with his life, while the team’s patrol vehicle was hit by bullets and engulfed in flames.

“The two vehicles the militants snatched from their owners, in their usual way of hiding under the guise of secessionist agitations to inflict social, economic and psychological pains on fellow citizens, have been recovered. Consequently, a joint team of security operatives are on their trail.”

Uzuegbu commended the Enugu State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, “for taking the bold and pragmatic steps of demolishing houses and facilities used in harbouring and perpetrating acts of abduction and kidnapping in the State.

“Therefore, I call on citizens of Enugu State, particularly landlords, hoteliers, and owners of uncompleted buildings to be mindful of who they accommodate in such structures.

“This is to ensure that they do not harbour criminals whose activities could bring about the demolition of their building facilities.”

While providing further details on the arrests made within the period, the Police Commissioner said, “yesterday, August 21, 2024, at about 5 p.m., Police Operatives serving in the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad recovered an AK-47 rifle at New Artisan, Enugu.

“The recovery followed the operatives’ swift response to credible information alleging the milling around of suspicious persons in the area.

“The suspects, upon sighting the operatives, opened fire on them.

“However, the operatives promptly returned fire, forcing the hoodlums to escape with gunshot wounds and abandoning the rifle. However, a discreet investigation is ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

“Similarly, on August 19, 2024, at about 1:30 a.m., a combined team of Tactical Police operatives busted a kidnapping gang hideout at New Artisan and arrested five (5) suspects.

“The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation and aiding further discreet investigations aimed at fishing out others at large.

“Also, on August 15, 2024, at about 2 a.m., operational and tactical Police Operatives of the Command raided the camp of the outlawed IPOB/ESN renegades at Aninwede Nkwubor, Emene, Enugu.

“The subversive criminal elements on sighting the operatives, opened fire on them.

“But the operatives returned fire at a superior level, neutralizing two of them, while others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.

“Incriminating exhibits, including firearms the hoodlums snatched from security operatives after attacking them were recovered, while discreet investigations are ongoing to arrest those at large.

“Furthermore, on August 17, 2024, at about 3:20 a.m., a combined team of the Command’s Police Operatives serving in the Awkunanaw Police Division and Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad arrested the following suspects: Obumneme Amara “m”, aged 26, of Ikwo LGA in Ebonyi State, Elom Chinedu (alias “Terry G”) “m”, aged 23,
Sani Usman (alias “Gburugburu”) “m”, aged 27, and Onuh Emmanuel “m”, aged 26, all of New Cattle Market, Awkunanaw, Enugu.

“The suspects were arrested following the operatives’ swift response to credible information, alleging that the suspects are part of an armed robbery gang perpetrating criminal acts in different parts of the Enugu metropolis. However, further discreet investigations are ongoing to arrest their cohorts at large.

“Additionally, Police Operatives serving in the Independence Layout Police Division of the Command, on August 21, 2024, at about 2 p.m., arrested three male suspects and recovered a suspected stolen tricycle and a motor vehicle gearbox.

“The suspects, who were arrested during the operatives’ routine surveillance patrol at Idume, New Phase 2, Independence Layout, Enugu. The suspects include:
Mohammed Mohammed, aged 27, of Thinkers Corner, Enugu, Onyedikachi Okolo, aged 22, and Mohammed Idris Sani, aged 22, both of New Artisan, Enugu.”

He said the numerous criminal suspects were nabbed for the offences of murder, armed robbery, kidnapping or abduction, rape or defilement, vandalism, stealing, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, cultism, among others.

The Police Chief thanked the good citizens of Enugu State for all their support and enjoined them to continue to be law-abiding, vigilant, and support the police with the credible and actionable information needed to actualize their goal of ridding Enugu State of all forms of crime and criminality.

News

VIDEO: Why I’ve Never Tried Convincing My Christian Wife To Convert To Islam — Tinubu

Published

2 hours ago

October 4, 2025

Editor

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has explained why he has never attempted to convince his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, to convert to Islam, stressing his belief in love, religious freedom, and mutual respect among people of different faiths.

Speaking on Saturday at the funeral service of Nana Lydia Yilwatda, mother of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwada, Tinubu said his marriage to a Christian pastor has never created any conflict in their home.

The president, who arrived in Jos, Plateau State around 2 p.m. for the ceremony at the COCIN headquarters church, said he inherited Islam from his family and has always upheld the principle of freedom of religion.

He noted that both he and the First Lady serve the same God and would ultimately be answerable to Him, adding that what matters most are people’s deeds, character, and love for others.

Tinubu urged Nigerians to embrace tolerance and peaceful coexistence, emphasising that hate should never have a place in the country.

He also prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Lydia Yilwada and asked God to grant comfort and blessings to those she left behind.

He said, “Hate is not an option for us. Love is what you preach, that we should love one another.

“Nobody, nobody determines what God has ordained. God’s ordained action and his promises are what matter. I inherited Islam from my family. I didn’t change. But my wife is a pastor. She prays for me.

“No conflict. And I never did at any single time try to convince her or convert her. I believe in the freedom of religion.

“We are praying to the same God. We are answerable to the same almighty God. We will answer to him. We will account to him. Our deeds, our character, our love for our fellow beings are what are important.

“May the almighty accept the soul of Lydia and give all that she left behind blessings and glory, so we say, may her soul rest in peace.”

News

UK Police Quiz Six After Fatal Synagogue Attack

Published

6 hours ago

October 4, 2025

Editor

Six people arrested on suspicion of “terrorism”-linked offences after a fatal car-ramming and knife attack on a UK synagogue remained in police custody on Saturday, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged people not to take part in pro-Palestinian protests.

Two people were killed and three others seriously wounded in Thursday’s attack in northwestern Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

Police shot dead the assailant, Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old UK citizen of Syrian descent, within minutes of the alarm being raised.

Three men and three women are in custody.

The attack has heightened fear among Britain’s Jewish community.

Police said they were patrolling places of worship across the city “with a particular focus on providing a high-visibility presence within our Jewish communities”.

The attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in north Manchester was one of the worst antisemitic incidents in Europe since the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel led by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive on the Gaza Strip has killed at least 66,288 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, according to health ministry figures in the occupied territory that the United Nations considers reliable.

The Gaza conflict has inflamed passions in Britain, with frequent pro-Palestinian rallies in cities that some critics allege have stoked antisemitism.

A “global movement for Gaza UK” protest went ahead in London late on Thursday, with police making 40 arrests.

London’s Metropolitan Police asked organisers delay another planned demonstration backing the banned Palestine Action group later on Saturday.

However, organisers Defend Our Juries rejected the calls.

A spokesman said the group “stood in solidarity” with the Jewish community over the attack.

– Accidental shooting –

Starmer urged protesters not to join the pro-Palestinian rally.

“I urge anyone thinking about protesting this weekend to recognise and respect the grief of British Jews. This is a moment of mourning. It is not a time to stoke tension and cause further pain,” he said on X.

During the attack, Shamie was seen “with a big knife, banging his knife into the glass, trying to get through”, synagogue chairman of trustees Alan Levy, who helped barricade the doors, told ITV News.

“The heroes of the congregation who saw what was happening then came to the doors because he was trying to break the doors down to get in,” he added.

A UK police watchdog, meanwhile, said it would look at the police shooting of Shamie.

The probe would also look at the shooting of a second victim who suffered a fatal gunshot and a third person who was shot but survived.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said there was no evidence anyone other than police used firearms at the scene.

“Our independent investigation will look at the circumstances surrounding the fatal police shooting of Jihad Al-Shamie,” it said in a statement.

“A post mortem has today (Friday) concluded another man who died at the scene suffered a fatal gunshot wound.”

IOPC investigations are standard practice in situations where the use of force by police may have resulted in the death of a member of the public.

News

Edo Inaugurates Committee On Drug Abuse, Healthy Living

Published

9 hours ago

October 4, 2025

Editor

L-R: ACGN, NDLEA, Fidelis Cocodia, Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon. Dennis Idahosa and Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani during the Inauguration

Edo State Government has inaugurated Drug Control Committee for the state and local governments, aimed at curbing the menace of drug abuse in the state.

Inaugurating the committee, Governor Monday Okpehbolo said the committee was not only saddled with the responsibility of curbing the menace of illicit substances, but to promote healthier living across communities in the state.

Represented by his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Okpebholo described the initiative as “a vital step in our unwavering commitment to stopping the menace of drug trafficking and substance use among youths.”

The governor, who bemoaned the rising tide of drug dependency and its impact on society, pointed out that the committee’s creation aligns with the national drug master plan and represents a bold stride toward protecting Edo future generations.

On his part, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, represented by ACGN, Fidelis Cocodia, Zonal Commander, Zone 13, emphasised grassroots interventions, awareness campaigns, and support systems as the backbone of the fight against drug abuse.

Edo State commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju disclosed that while national drug use prevalence stands at 14.4 percent, Edo state surpasses the average at 15 percent.

He noted that the state is one of the hardest-hit states in the country, warning that the trend has fueled crime and heightened youth vulnerability.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole pledged to make Edo a model in drug control through rehabilitation, youth enlightenment, and second-chance opportunities for recovering addicts.

Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, described drug abuse as a pandemic, noting that “you hardly see a crime without drugs being involved.”

She added that women’s empathy and influence must be harnessed in the campaign against drug abuse.