The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has restated the Nigeria Police Force’s steadfast dedication to eradicating violent crimes across the country, with a particular focus on kidnapping.
This renewed assurance follows the outcomes of recent strategic and intelligence-led operations carried out by police teams in both Enugu and Ogun States, according to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
The coordinated efforts resulted in the successful rescue of four kidnap victims, the neutralisation of three armed suspects, the apprehension of several others, and the recovery of firearms, ransom payments, and other evidence linked to criminal activity.
“In Enugu State, on July 16, 2025, at about 3:00 p.m., law enforcement officers, working in collaboration with community security groups, acted swiftly in response to an emergency call from the Okpuje-Ani community in Nsukka Local Government Area. The report indicated the presence of armed kidnappers in a forested area,” the statement revealed.
It went on to explain that the criminals engaged the officers in a gunfight. During the confrontation, one of the armed suspects was neutralised, while the others fled into the forest, sustaining various gunshot wounds.
“An AK-47 rifle, loaded with two live bullets, was recovered from the scene. Later that same day, personnel from the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad apprehended one Aliyu Adamu, aged 23, along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, based on credible intelligence. During questioning, the suspect confessed to being involved in multiple kidnapping operations and disclosed that he was invited from Awka, Anambra State, to participate in criminal missions within Enugu,” the statement added.
In a related incident, also in Enugu, on July 15, 2025, around 2:20 p.m., two women—Juliet Chukwu, aged 39, and Nancy Chukwu, aged 40—were arrested by law enforcement agents. The duo was reportedly caught while sharing a ₦10 million ransom collected from a male relative whom they had allegedly conspired to abduct. The original ransom demand was ₦50 million.
The victim, fortunately, was freed without harm. Police also recovered the ransom money and a Toyota Corolla vehicle used by the suspects.
In Ogun State, the police spokesperson also recounted the swift response to a kidnapping incident reported on July 16, 2025. Three individuals had been abducted around the Ajebo axis under the jurisdiction of the Owode Egba Division.
“At approximately 4:00 a.m., the Anti-Kidnapping team, aided by modern tracking technology, pinpointed the suspects’ location and confronted them along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. A gun battle ensued, resulting in the neutralisation of two of the suspects. All three kidnap victims were successfully rescued without injury,” the police said.
Items recovered from the scene included one AK-47 rifle, 139 rounds of live ammunition, a magazine, a cutlass, a padlock and chain, ₦1,235,000 suspected to be part of the ransom money, and several mobile phones believed to have been used for ransom negotiations.
The IGP commended the courage and discipline displayed by the officers involved in the operations, describing them as proof of a new era of proactive, intelligence-based, and technology-supported policing.
He emphasized that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to dismantling criminal gangs operating across various regions and restoring trust in the country’s security institutions.
What you should know
Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun’s renewed focus on intelligence-led operations has led to major breakthroughs in kidnapping cases in Enugu and Ogun States.
With arrests made, victims rescued, and suspects neutralised, the recent actions reflect a stronger, tech-enabled approach to public safety.
