The Nigeria Police Force in Enugu State has recorded significant operational successes in the past year, including the rescue of 168 kidnapped victims and the arrest of 5,895 criminal suspects for various offences.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing held on March 11, 2026, at the Enugu State Police Command Headquarters in the Government Reserved Area (GRA).
Reviewing the Command’s security performance since assuming office on March 11, 2025, Giwa said the police had remained committed to professional, proactive and people-friendly policing, driven largely by intelligence-led operations and community collaboration.
He explained that the Command has placed strong emphasis on discipline and professionalism among officers, noting that personnel who fail to uphold the core values of the Force are subjected to internal disciplinary procedures.
The commissioner also commended the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, whose reforms he said have strengthened professionalism, respect for citizens’ rights and modern people-centred policing across the Force.
Decline in Violent Crimes
According to Giwa, the proactive strategies adopted by the Command have resulted in noticeable reductions in violent crimes, particularly kidnapping, murder, rape and armed robbery across the state.
He noted that although some criminal incidents occurred beyond the scope of initial preventive measures, police responded swiftly through intelligence-driven operations that led to the arrest of suspects and the rescue of victims.
Rescue Operations and Arrests
One of the most recent breakthroughs occurred on March 6, 2026, when police operatives, working with the military, Forest Guards and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, rescued twelve kidnapped victims from the Efeche Forest in Ette community of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area.
Subsequent sting operations led to the arrest of three suspects identified by the victims as members of the kidnapping gang. Recovered items included a pump-action gun, a locally fabricated revolver, a live cartridge, a military camouflage hat and two bulletproof jackets.
In another operation on February 27, 2026, operatives attached to the Unity Division, supported by the Neighbourhood Watch Group, arrested five suspects along the Ugwuogo–Opi–Nsukka Road at Ogbeke-Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area.
Police said the suspects confessed to involvement in several kidnapping and armed robbery incidents. Items recovered from them included a locally fabricated six-round revolver, a cutlass and two daggers.
Clergyman Rescued After Gun Battle
On January 29, 2026, police operatives, in collaboration with soldiers, Forest Guards, neighbourhood security personnel and community vigilantes, rescued a kidnapped clergyman during a bush-combing operation in the Agushere and Okpakereke forests bordering Benue State.
Security operatives engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle, killing one suspect while others fled with gunshot wounds. The victim was rescued unharmed.
An AK-47 rifle, 20 rounds of live ammunition, an extra magazine, two daggers and military camouflage uniforms were recovered during the operation.
Similarly, on January 18, 2026, police foiled another kidnapping attempt along the Ngene-Ukwu axis of the Adani–Nsukka Road after a gun duel with suspected kidnappers. One suspect was neutralised, while others escaped with injuries.
Overall, the Command arrested 129 suspects linked to kidnapping within the period under review.
Arrests in Rape and Defilement Cases
The police also arrested 39 suspects for rape and defilement.
Among them was 18-year-old Chinedu Nkasiobi, arrested by operatives of the Abakpa Division on March 6, 2026. He allegedly broke into a woman’s apartment through the ceiling in the Alulu-Nike area of Enugu on March 4 and raped her after threatening her with a knife.
Another suspect, 30-year-old Ikenna Ekesi, was arrested following a complaint by the Enugu State Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development for allegedly defiling and impregnating his 12-year-old ward in Mmaku community of Awgu Local Government Area.
Police also arrested 45-year-old Eugene Obinna Ikeche after his 17-year-old daughter reported that he had been sexually abusing her and later began defiling her 12-year-old sister. Investigators said the suspect confessed and would be prosecuted upon completion of investigations.
Crackdown on Cultism and Drug Trafficking
The Command also intensified its crackdown on cultism and drug-related crimes, leading to the arrest of 210 suspects.
In a major operation on March 8, 2026, police tactical teams disrupted a suspected cult initiation ceremony in the Owerre-Eze Orba forest in Udenu Local Government Area.
The operation followed intelligence reports that suspected cultists had gathered near the Green House area of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka before heading to the forest.
Thirteen suspects were arrested during the raid, including two individuals with fresh initiation marks believed to be members of the Black Axe Confraternity.
Police recovered firearms, pistols, cartridges, a pick-handle axe, knives, three vehicles, a tricycle, 45 motorcycles, 24 mobile phones, a laptop and other materials.
Large quantities of illicit drugs were also seized, including cannabis variants known locally as Kolos and Loud, as well as tramadol and methamphetamine, popularly called “Mkpuru-Mmiri.”
Crime Statistics
Providing an overview of the Command’s achievements over the past year, the commissioner said 5,895 suspects were arrested for various offences.
These include 148 suspects for armed robbery, 129 for kidnapping, 158 for murder, 48 for unlawful possession of firearms, 39 for rape and defilement, and 210 for cultism and drug-related offences.
Another 5,163 suspects were arrested for crimes such as stealing, fraud, vandalism, human trafficking and house-breaking.
Police also recovered 105 firearms — including 22 AK-47 rifles and one G-3 rifle — as well as 665 rounds of live ammunition.
In addition, 118 stolen or abandoned vehicles were recovered during police operations.
Security for Major Events
Giwa noted that the Command successfully provided security for several major events held in the state, including the Christmas and New Year festivities, the 2026 Legal Week, the South East Vision 2050 Stakeholders Forum and the Zion Movement Outreach Crusade.
He also recalled that the 2025 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, which attracted more than 20,000 lawyers to Enugu, was secured without any major security breach.
Prosecution of Cases
Speaking on the prosecution of criminal cases, the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, said the Command has continued to prioritise diligent investigation and effective prosecution as part of efforts to ensure that criminal suspects face the full weight of the law.
According to him, a total of 1,248 criminal cases were handled by the Command within the period under review, covering offences ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping and murder to rape, cultism, fraud and other related crimes.
Out of these cases, 237 have resulted in convictions in various courts across Enugu State, a development the police chief described as a reflection of improved investigation procedures and closer collaboration between the police, prosecutors and the judiciary.
Giwa further disclosed that 368 cases are still under active investigation, explaining that some of the matters involve complex criminal networks requiring detailed forensic analysis, intelligence gathering and the arrest of additional suspects before they can be concluded and charged to court.
He emphasised that the Command remains committed to ensuring that suspects are thoroughly investigated and properly prosecuted, stressing that the police would not allow criminal cases to be abandoned or compromised.
The commissioner also noted that the Command continues to work closely with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and other relevant legal authorities to ensure speedy dispensation of justice, adding that sustained prosecution efforts serve as a strong deterrent to criminal activities in the state.
Appreciation and Call for Support
Giwa expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police and the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for their support in strengthening security in the state.
He also commended the contributions of sister security agencies, the Enugu State Forest Guards, the Neighbourhood Watch Group and residents who provide intelligence to law enforcement authorities.
The commissioner urged traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations, the media and residents to continue supporting the police in sustaining peace across the state.
“Together, we can continue to build and sustain a peaceful and secure environment for everyone in Enugu State,” Giwa said.
