….As Police Rescue 4 Victims, Neutralise 3 Suspects, Recover Millions in Ransom from Enugu, Ogun Operations
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s unwavering commitment to combating all forms of violent crime, particularly kidnapping, through enhanced, technology-driven, and intelligence-led policing strategies.
According to a press release on Sunday, 20th July, 2025, signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, this assurance comes on the heels of major breakthroughs recorded in Enugu and Ogun States, where police operatives successfully rescued four kidnapped victims, neutralised three armed suspects, arrested several others, and recovered substantial ransom sums, firearms, and critical exhibits.
In Enugu State, on July 16, 2025, at about 3:00 p.m., police operatives in synergy with local security outfits swiftly responded to a distress call from the Okpuje-Ani community in Nsukka Local Government Area regarding armed kidnappers sighted in a forest. In the ensuing encounter, one suspect was neutralised while others escaped with gunshot wounds. An AK-47 rifle loaded with two live rounds was recovered from the scene.
Further intelligence-led action led to the arrest of a 23-year-old suspect, Aliyu Adamu, along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. Upon interrogation, he confessed to participating in several kidnappings and revealed he was invited from Awka, Anambra State, to execute criminal operations in Enugu.
In a related operation on July 15, 2025, police arrested two female suspects, Juliet Chukwu (39) and Nancy Chukwu (40), during the distribution of a ₦10 million ransom. The suspects were found to have masterminded the abduction of their own kinsman after an initial ₦50 million demand. The victim was rescued unharmed, while a Toyota Corolla vehicle and the full ransom amount were recovered.
Similarly, in Ogun State, police responded promptly to a kidnapping report involving three individuals around the Ajebo axis under the Owode Egba Division. In the early hours of July 20, 2025, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, using cutting-edge technology, traced the suspects to a hideout along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. A fierce gun duel ensued, resulting in the neutralisation of two suspects and the successful rescue of all three victims without injury.
Items recovered during the Ogun operation include one AK-47 rifle, 139 rounds of ammunition, a magazine, a cutlass, a chain and padlock, ₦1,235,000 suspected to be part of the ransom, and multiple mobile phones used for ransom negotiations.
Commending the courage and professionalism of the officers involved, IGP Egbetokun noted that the operations underscore the Nigeria Police Force’s strategic focus on proactive crime-fighting, anchored on technology and actionable intelligence. He reiterated the Force’s resolve to dismantle all criminal networks threatening peace and security across Nigeria.
The IGP further urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue to support the police with timely information, assuring that the Force remains steadfast in its duty to protect lives and property.
