Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Police Command, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, says the command arrested 5,895 suspects for various crimes and rescued 168 kidnapped victims within one year of his leadership as the Commissioner of Police of the command.
Some of the items recovered.
He made that known while briefing Newsmen on Wednesday at the State Police Headquarters in Enugu.
Reviewing the command’s achievements since his assumption of office on March 11, 2025, CP Giwa said his administration had focused on professional, proactive and people-friendly policing, a strategy he said had contributed to a noticeable reduction in violent crimes across the state.
He emphasized that discipline and professionalism remain central to the operations of the Nigeria Police Force, warning that officers who violate the standards of the force face strict sanctions.
Vehicles recovered
According to him, the command’s efforts align with the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, who has repeatedly stressed professionalism, respect for citizens’ rights and community-centered policing.
Major Operations and Arrests
The police commissioner revealed that operatives recently rescued 12 kidnapped victims from a forest in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area after a coordinated operation involving the military, forest guards and neighbourhood watch groups.
He said three suspects linked to the kidnapping gang were later arrested and weapons including a pump-action gun, a locally fabricated revolver and ammunition were recovered.
Some of the vehicles recovered
In another operation, five suspects allegedly involved in kidnapping and armed robbery were arrested along the Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka road.
Giwa added that police operatives also rescued a kidnapped clergyman during a joint bush-combing operation near the Enugu-Benue border where one kidnap suspect was neutralized and an AK-47 rifle recovered.
On cultism, drug and sexual offences, CP Giwa said the command also recorded major breakthroughs in tackling cultism and drug trafficking.
He said 210 suspects were arrested for cultism and illicit drug offences, including members of the Black Axe confraternity whose initiation ceremony was disrupted by police operatives in a forest near Nsukka.
Several firearms, vehicles, motorcycles, mobile phones and other items were recovered during the raid.
The police also arrested 39 suspects for rape and defilement, including an 18-year-old man accused of breaking into a woman’s home through the ceiling before allegedly raping her at knife-point in Enugu.
Another suspect was arrested for allegedly impregnating his 12-year-old ward, while a 45-year-old man was detained for allegedly defiling his teenage daughters.
One-Year Crime Statistics
Presenting a summary of the command’s achievements, Giwa said the police arrested:
148 suspects for armed robbery
129 suspects for kidnapping
158 suspects for murder
48 suspects for unlawful possession of firearms
39 suspects for rape or defilement
210 suspects for cultism and drug offences
In addition, 5,163 suspects were arrested for other crimes such as fraud, vandalism, stealing and human trafficking.
The command also recovered 105 firearms, including 22 AK-47 rifles, and 665 rounds of ammunition, while 118 stolen vehicles were recovered.
Events Secured Without Incident
The police boss also noted that the command successfully provided security for major events in the state, including the 2025 conference of the Nigerian Bar Association which attracted more than 20,000 lawyers to Enugu.
Other secured events included the South-East Vision 2050 stakeholders’ forum and the Zion Movement outreach crusade.
Giwa commended the Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for his administration ‘s support . He also commended security agencies, forest guards, neighbourhood watch groups and residents who provide intelligence to the police.
He assured residents that the command remains committed to strengthening security across the state.
“Together, we can achieve and sustain a secure, peaceful and thriving environment for everyone in Enugu State,” he said.
