*Ransom, 4 AK-47 rifles, ammunition recovered
Security forces in Enugu State have successfully apprehended three perpetrators of the August 2nd, 2026 kidnap attack on St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Inoyi-Affa, Udi LGA, Enugu State, and also recovered ransom during the operations.
This was as one of the kidnap suspects was neutralised in a gun duel during the joint operation of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Army, Police, Enugu State Forest Guard, and others, which also saw to the recovery of four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of ammunition from the hideouts of the kidnapping syndicate.
Speaking to newsmen during the parade of the suspects at the state headquarters of the DSS in Enugu on Monday evening, Gov. Peter Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, stated that the remaining two of the three victims of the August 2nd attack, Seminarian Lawrence Igbo and Mr. Emmanuel Onwudi, had also regained their freedom.
Mbah also revealed that ransom deployed as a strategy was fully recovered, noting that security agents tracked down the criminals by deploying the state’s hi-tech security assets.
He hailed the DSS, Army, Police, Forest Guards and other security agencies in the state, adding that the victims had equally identified the apprehended criminals as their abductors.
The governor assured the people that his administration would continue to prioritise and invest in the security of their lives and properties.
“There was one fatality in this process. It was one of the criminals that died in the process of apprehending them.
“Usually, criminal elements will not want to be apprehended easily without a fight, but our people were ready, and we have one fatality, while the others are here now as you could see; and they will face the full wrath of the law.
“We made it very clear that if criminality becomes your venture, Enugu State is not the location to do that business; that we will pursue you, we will make sure we bring you to justice, and that was why we put the robust security architecture across the state, working in collaboration with the security forces to ensure that Enugu is uncomfortable for anybody that plans criminality, and you’re seeing that very clearly.
“We are intentional in investing in and organising our security architecture to prevent crime. But if there is a breach, you can run, but cannot hide for long. We must get you.
“You can’t commit these crimes in Enugu State and get away with it. No way,” he stated.
He also warned locals who collude with the criminal elements or serve as their informants, vowing to come after them also.
“We will find you also, just as we have found these people, and we will prosecute you as part of this evil operation and this evil syndicate.
“Wherever you are, know that investigation is on-going and that this government will track you down, and you will pay for your crimes in planning havoc on our citizens. So wherever you are, we are still coming for you,” he stressed.
He paid special tributes to the security forces for their cooperation and gallantry.
“We also want to very highly commend all the security agencies: the DSS, Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police, the Enugu State Forest Guard, the military services, others for being very instrumental in some of the work that was done, and continue to do in Enugu State,” he said.
