The Enugu State Government said on Wednesday that security agencies in the state have killed no fewer than 27 criminals terrorising the state, including some followers of Finland-based Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa.
This was according to a statement on Wednesday released by Governor Peter Mbah’s media office.
The statement said the criminals were eliminated over two weeks in different security operations, where criminals engaged security operatives in gunfight.
It quoted a police Superintendent, Onochie Ezeh, as stating that “No fewer than 27 kidnappers, including members of the Auto Pilot, also known as unknown gunmen, a notorious breakaway faction of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra loyal to the Finland-based fugitive, Simon Ekpa, which terrorised Enugu and its environs have been gunned down in shootouts with security operatives at various locations across the state in the past two weeks.”
It added that security operatives uncovered and destroyed various hideouts of criminal gangs in the state.
“I can tell you that we have already neutralised over seven criminal gangs who were mostly kidnappers and unknown gunmen. We are going after them. We are taking the battle to their doorsteps because the governor said we should not come back home if we don’t completely rid the state of threats.
“So, we are on it. In fact, during our operations, we identified many criminal hideouts that served as rogue premises where kidnap victims and dangerous weapons were kept.
These places include the New Artisan Market, Akwuke community, Akegbe-Ugwu, Four Corners, Awgu, Mgbowo, Emene, Eke and Afa in Udi and some parts of Isi Uzo local government. During rescue operations, we were able to neutralise over 30 of the kidnappers and recovered guns and valuables,” the superintendent was quoted to have said.
According to the statement, security operatives also rescued some kidnapped victims, with one of them, identified as Dr Kate Pamela, recounting her traumatic experience in the kidnappers’ den.
“Each time I pass through that poultry, I feel I have been denied justice by still allowing it to operate. They kidnapped us and kept us there for five days. They even killed two of the victims because their families could only afford N10m each against the N50m demanded. Notwithstanding that I was able to identify the bodies of three of the kidnappers when they were killed, I still feel that the area should be cleared.
“The government must ensure justice by turning that place into a landfill,” the statement quoted the victim to have said.
