The Enugu State Police Command says it rescued 211 kidnap victims and detained 6,240 suspects over a 17-month period, as part of what officials described as sustained security operations across the state.
Police also recovered 156 firearms and 1,486 rounds of ammunition during the operations. The figures were disclosed by the command’s spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement issued on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, on Saturday in Enugu, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
Giwa shared the statistics while receiving the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 13, Miller Dantawaye, during a working visit to the command on Friday. He explained that the 17-month period covered operational achievements recorded since he assumed office on March 11, 2025.
According to the commissioner, the 6,240 suspects detained included 158 kidnapping suspects, 186 suspected armed robbers, 188 murder suspects and 57 suspects held for rape and defilement. He added that 273 suspects were detained in connection with cultism and 63 for unlawful possession of firearms. The remaining 5,315 suspects were detained for other offences, including stealing, breaking and vandalism.
Giwa said the firearms recovered included 43 AK-47 rifles and one G-3 assault rifle, among other weapons. He said the command also recovered 209 vehicular exhibits, comprising motor vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles, during the course of its operations.
The commissioner attributed the achievements to intelligence-led operations, proactive policing and security collaboration with neighbouring states. He pointed to the deployment of the Violent Crime Response Unit, intensified border patrols under the Inspector-General of Police’s Handshake Patrol initiative, and improved emergency response through the Distress Response Squad and the Command-and-Control Centre.
Giwa appealed for continued support from the police zone, particularly in manpower, operational logistics and personnel welfare, to help the command build on its results.
Responding, Dantawaye urged officers and personnel of the command to uphold professionalism, discipline, accountability and ethical conduct while strictly adhering to Force regulations and respecting citizens’ rights. He urged personnel to remain committed to their constitutional responsibilities and to sustain public confidence in the police, and said he was ready to work with the command to further strengthen security in Enugu State.
Suspects mentioned in the police figures have been detained in connection with the listed offences; under Nigerian law, all detained persons are presumed innocent unless and until found guilty by a court.
Source: The Punch
