Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has commended security and intelligence agencies for arresting three suspected members of a kidnap gang linked to the August 2, 2026 attack on St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Inoyi-Affa, in Udi Local Government Area of the state.
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The suspects were arrested during a joint security operation involving the SSS, the Nigerian Army, the Police, the Enugu State Forest Guard and other security agencies.
The operation reportedly led to a gun battle with the suspected kidnappers, during which one member of the gang was neutralised. Four AK-47 rifles and ammunition were also recovered.
Mbah gave the commendation on Monday night after a visit to the SSS headquarters in Enugu, where the arrested suspects were paraded.
The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed that two of the three kidnapped victims from the August 2 church attack, Seminarian Lawrence Igbo and Mr. Emmanuel Onwudi, had regained their freedom.
Onyia said the freed victims had identified the arrested suspects as their abductors.
He assured residents that the state government would continue to prioritise security and invest in measures to protect lives and property across Enugu State.
“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 can see; and they will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.
The SSG said the government had made it clear that Enugu would not be a safe place for criminal activities, adding that the security architecture put in place by the Mbah administration was designed to prevent crime and ensure that offenders are brought to justice.
“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 said.
He warned residents against colluding with criminal elements or acting as informants to kidnappers and other criminal groups, saying such persons would also be tracked down and prosecuted.
“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,” he warned.
Onyia commended the SSS, Nigerian Army, Police, Enugu State Forest Guard and other security agencies for their cooperation and gallantry, saying their joint efforts had continued to strengthen security operations across the state.
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