Police in Enugu have arrested 29 suspected criminals, including the abductors of the Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Cyprian Ugwuanyi, the Parrish Priest of St. Paul Catholic Church, Ogbosu, Umulokpa, in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State who was kidnapped on January 10 this year.

The suspects were alleged to have committed various criminal offences in the state in one month, the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Abdurrahman, has said.

While parading the suspects on Monday before newsmen in Enugu, the Police Commissioner, Abdurrahman, said that the command had also recovered 13 arms through various strategic operations during the said period, adding that one ammunition, 10 live cartridges, five expanded cartridges were also recovered from the suspects.

The Police Commissioner who further said that four vehicles, a toy gun, five medical equipment, three laptops, and one plasma television were part of the recovered items, noted that the feat was achieved through intelligence information and robust collaboration with other sister security agencies and effective partnership with relevant security stakeholders.

“The feats were recorded in the month under review from the following formations; Anti-cultism squad, CP Monitoring Unit, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Special Anti-Robbery Squad among others. on January 18 and January 22, some kidnapping suspects were arrested by the command’s anti-kidnapping unit at their various hideouts in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State connected with the kidnap of some personalities in the state”, he added.

His words: “These personalities included; PDP Woman Leader of Igbo-Etiti LGA of Enugu State with her son and driver on December 21, 2019, at about 7;30 p.m.

“They also allegedly kidnapped Mr. Ejike Ugwuanyi on January 14 at about 9;30 p.m. at Obollo Afor as well as Rev. Fr. Cyprian Ugwuanyi, Parish Priest of St. Paul Catholic Church, Ogbosu, Umulokpa in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area on January 10,’’ he said.

He gave the names of the kidnap suspects as Adamu Mohammed, 25, from Taraba State; Musa Ibrahim, 28, from Katsina State and Dauda Alhaji, 31, from Nasarawa State.

The commissioner said that one AK 47 rifle with 11 rounds of live ammunition and three locally made long guns with 18 live cartridges were recovered from the three suspects.

He also said that command operatives arrested six suspects on advanced free fraud and child trafficking Jan. 8 at Golf Estate, Enugu following a report to the commissioner of police.

“Recovered from the suspects included three vehicles, N2 million, three stethoscopes, one ink-pad and a stamp bearing Enugu State University Teaching Hospital among others,’’ he said.

Abdurrahman said that the command arrested two suspects for unlawful possession of firearm, armed robbery and cult activities on Jan. 10 in various locations in the state.

He said that five arms and one round of 0.9mm live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

“These and many other issues were unraveled by the command in the month under review,’’ he said.

He thanked the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, for giving the command the needed re-enforcement and specialised directive.

“We are grateful to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for giving the command the needed logistic support, the good people of Enugu State for their support and journalists for partnering with the command to succeed,’’ he added. (Nigerian Tribune)

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