Enugu State Governor, Mr. Peter Mbah has again sent a stern warning to all shades of criminal elements intending to ply their nefarious trade in the state, saying that Enugu has been made too hot for them.
He gave the warning while fielding questions from journalists during the parade of the suspects involved in the kidnap incident of August 2, 2026 which occurred at St Joseph Catholic Church Inoyi-Affa, Udi Local Government.
Speaking at the state headquarters of the DSS in Enugu Monday evening, Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government(SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, expressed delight at the successful security operation.
He said that the two remaining kidnap victims, Lawrence Igbo, who is a Semimarian, and Mr.Emmanuel Onwudi have been freed from captivity while one of rheir abductors was neutralised and three arrested.
Mbah revealed that the ransom deployed as a decoy in the security operation was fully recovered, adding that the victims had equally identified the apprehended criminals as their abductors.
“We made it very clear that if criminality becomes your venture, Enugu State is not the location to do that business; that we will pursue you, we will make sure we bring you to justice,” he said.
He noted that security remained a top priority in the agenda of his administration hence “the robust security architecture we put across the state, working in collaboration with the security forces”.
Mbah said that the ultimate goal was “to ensure that Enugu is uncomfortable for anybody that plans criminality”, adding, “you’re seeing (the result) very clearly”.
“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 he told prospective criminals.
He also has tough words for locals who collude with criminal elements or serve as their informants to breach the security of Enugu, vowing to come after them also.
“We will find you also, just as we have found these people(Affa kidnap masterminds), and we will prosecute you as part of this evil operation and this evil syndicate.
“Wherever you are, know that investigation is ongoing and that this government will track you down, and you will pay for your crimes in planning havoc on our citizens. So wherever you are, we are still coming for you,” he stressed.
The Enugu Governor specially praised the DSS, Army, Police, Forest Guards and other security agencies in the state for their cooperation, noting with satisfaction that operatives tracked down the criminals by deploying the state’s hi-tech security assets.
He said: “We also want to very highly commend all the security agencies: the DSS, Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police, the Enugu State Forest Guard, the military services, others for being very instrumental in some of the work that was done, and continue to do in Enugu State”.
Mbah reassured the people and residents of Enugu State that his administration would continue to prioritise and invest in the security of their lives and properties.
He confirmed that one of the kidnap suspects was neutralised during theoperation, saying, “There was one fatality in this operation. It was one of the criminals that died in the process of apprehending them”.
According to him, the death of one of the suspects was unavoidable because “usually, criminal elements will not want to be apprehended easily without a fight”.
But Mbah said that “our people(security operatives) were ready hence the liquidation of a member of the kidnap gang “while the others are here now as you could see; and they will face the full wrath of the law”.
The Enugu Governor specially commended the security forces for their cooperation and gallantry as they continue to record successes in their joint operations for the security of the state.
“We want to very highly commend all the security agencies: the DSS, Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police, the Enugu State Forest Guard, the military services, others for being very instrumental in some of the work that was done, and continue to do in Enugu State,” he stated.
On that fateful Sunday of the kidnap incident three persons were abducted by the gunmen within the Church premises as the faithful were going for the early mass. Following pressure from security operatives, the fleeing criminals eventually abandoned one of their victims and made away with the other two.
One of the kidnap suspects was neutralised in a gun duel during the joint operation that involved the Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Police, Enugu State Forest Guard, and others.
Apart from the rescue of the kidnap victims and arrest of the crime suspects as well as the killing of one them, the security operatives also recovered four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of ammunition from the hideouts of the kidnapping syndicate.
