Crime
Governor Mbah Commends Security Forces Over Arrest Of Affa Church Kidnappers
A joint operation by the Department of State Services (DSS), the Army, Police, Enugu State Forest Guard, and others, led to a gun battle with the suspected kidnappers.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has commended intelligence and security agencies in the state for having arrested three members of a notorious kidnap gang responsible for the August 2, 2026 attack on St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Inoyi-Affa, in Udi LGA of the state.
A joint operation by the Department of State Services (DSS), the Army, Police, Enugu State Forest Guard, and others, led to a gun battle with the suspected kidnappers.
One suspected member of the kidnapping gang was neutralized, while the security team recovered four AK-47 rifles and a cache of ammunition.
The governor made the commendation on Monday night after visiting the state DSS headquarters to see the arrested suspected kidnappers.
The governor, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed that two of the three kidnapped victims of the August 2 attack, Seminarian Lawrence Igbo and Mr. Emmanuel Onwudi, had regained their freedom.
The victims, stated the SSG, had fully identified the apprehended men as their abductors.
On behalf of the governor, the SSG assured the people of Enugu State that the Mbah administration would continue to prioritise and invest in the security of their lives and properties.
“There was one fatality in this process. It was one of the criminals that died in the process of apprehending them.
Usually, criminal elements will not want to be apprehended easily without a fight, but our people were ready, and we have one fatality, while the others are here now as you can see; and they will face the full wrath of the law,” he declared.
“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, and that was why we put the robust security architecture across the state, working in collaboration with the security forces to ensure that Enugu is uncomfortable for anybody that plans criminality, and you’re seeing that 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 said.
He warned citizens against colluding with criminal elements or serve as their informants, vowing to come after them.
“We will find you also, just as we have found these people, 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.He showered encomium on the security forces for their cooperation and gallantry.
“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,” the SSG declared.
The Kogi State Police Command, working in collaboration with other security agencies, has rescued 16 victims who were abducted along the Itobe–Anyigba highway in Ofu Local Government Area of the state.
The victims — 12 adults and four children — were kidnapped while travelling along the highway. Two of those abducted were officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
Addressing journalists in Lokoja, the Commissioner of Police, Naziru Bello Kankarofi, said the victims were freed during a fierce gun battle between security operatives and the armed attackers.
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Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (JTF NW OPFY) have rescued 33 passengers abducted by terrorists in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Acting on credible information received in the late afternoon of 8 August 2026, the troops, working with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force deployed in Tsafe, responded swiftly to reports that terrorists had kidnapped commuters travelling through the Magazu area.
The troops mobilised to the location and made contact with the terrorists, who were already moving the abducted passengers towards an unknown destination. Engaging the attackers with effective fire, the troops forced them to abandon their victims and flee into nearby bushes.
All 33 abducted persons were secured and rescued unharmed. Troops have since begun exploitation of the general area and are continuing efforts to track the fleeing terrorists.
The Theatre Commander, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, has commended the troops for their prompt response and professionalism, which ensured the safe rescue of the passengers without any casualty. He restated the Theatre Command’s resolve to protect innocent citizens, deny terrorists freedom of action, and secure major transportation routes across the North-West.
Members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and promptly share credible information on the activities and movements of terrorists and other criminal elements with security forces.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Friday night arrested three more persons suspected to be members of the kidnapping ring that abducted the dean of agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Professor Samuel Avengbe Okunsebor.
The university don was rescued by DSS operatives two days after some gunmen kidnapped him in the wee hours of Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Mile Uku, a border community between Lafia and Nasarawa-Eggon LGAs. Two suspects, including a lady, were arrested by the DSS at the time.
DSS operatives arrested the three other members of the kidnapping gang on Friday night at a local brothel on the Mararraban Akunza, Lafia – Makurdi highway
According to report, “the suspects were identified as 25-year-old Yakubu Abubakar (aka Black/Starboy), of the Doemak tribe in Plateau State;
37-year-old Usman Abubakar Mairiga,
and 27-year-old Sale Babauro Abubakar. Mairiga
and Abubakar are Hausa and Fulani respectively.
It was disclosed that the suspects are in the custody of the State Command for further investigations. The move, however, followed a valid detention warrant from a magistrate’s court.
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