Police Burst Criminal Syndicate In Enugu, Arrest 14 Kidnap Suspects
15th August, 2026 | News
Police Arrest 14 Suspected Members of Kidnapping Syndicate in Enugu
The Enugu State Police Command has arrested and paraded 14 suspected members of an organised kidnapping syndicate allegedly responsible for several abduction operations in Enugu State and other parts of Nigeria.
The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the Command’s headquarters in Enugu on Friday, August 14, 2026.
According to Giwa, two of the suspects were allegedly involved in the August 2 kidnapping at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Affa, in Udi Local Government Area. He said the suspects fled to Port Harcourt following increased pressure from joint security operations, where they reportedly regrouped with other members of the syndicate and abducted another victim. The victim was later released after a ₦5 million ransom was paid.
The 14 suspects were arrested at different times between June and August 2026 across Abuja, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kwara and Taraba states.
Police investigations have reportedly linked the suspects to several kidnapping incidents along major routes and communities in Enugu, including the Enugu–Ugwuogo–Opi–Nsukka Road, Obioma–9th Mile–Umulumgbe–Okpatu Road and the Eke–Affa–Egede–Ezinze axis.
Authorities also alleged that the suspects were connected to multiple kidnapping operations in Ezeagu and Udi Local Government Areas, involving significant ransom payments in both naira and US dollars.
The Commissioner said the syndicate operated as a coordinated network, with members based in different parts of the country travelling to Enugu to plan and carry out operations before returning to their respective locations.
According to the police, an Enugu-based member allegedly assisted the gang by providing transportation and moving firearms and other criminal equipment, while another member reportedly supplied intelligence on potential targets and helped the group evade security surveillance.
Investigators also alleged that proceeds from the criminal activities were concealed through investments in livestock and properties, as well as lavish spending and foreign trips.
Items recovered from the suspects include five AK-47 rifles, two pump-action guns, one locally fabricated firearm, 310 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, eight live cartridges and seven empty AK-47 magazines.
The police said investigations are continuing to determine the suspects’ involvement in other kidnapping and violent-crime cases, identify additional members of the syndicate and recover more weapons and suspected criminal proceeds.
The suspects are expected to be charged to court after the completion of investigations.
One of the suspects reportedly confessed to participating in kidnapping for more than three years, claiming that the gang operated along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and generated millions of naira through ransom payments.
The Police Command attributed the breakthrough to improved security infrastructure, intelligence gathering, technology-driven investigations, inter-agency collaboration and cooperation between security agencies across states.
The Commissioner also commended Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, other security agencies and members of the public for their support and cooperation in the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes.