27 Kidnappers, ESN Members Loyal To Simon Ekpa Killed In Enugu

Enugu Government Says 27 Kidnappers, ESN Members Loyal To Simon Ekpa Killed By Security Operatives

At least 27 suspected kidnappers and members of the security outfit of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Eastern Security Network (ESN) have been killed by combined security agencies in Enugu State as claimed by the Governor Peter Mbah-led administration.

A statement on Wednesday by Governor Mbah’s media office said they were killed in a shootout with security operatives at various locations across the state in the past two weeks, citing debriefings from the security agencies.

According to the statement, some of the neutralised pro-Biafra agitators were those loyal to the Finland-based leader, Simon Ekpa better known as auto-pilot IPOB.

The statement noted that residents of the state had also appealed to the governor to invoke the provisions of the state’s criminal code and demolish all the properties used by kidnappers and other criminal elements as stash houses to serve as deterrent to criminals.

Speaking at Ugwuogo Nike-Opi Road in the early hours of Wednesday, Superintendent Onochie Ezeh, who led a joint security operation to rescue some kidnap victims, said the operation led to the killing of 7-man-gang kidnappers at Ogbeke Nike where the kidnappers used a large poultry farm to hide their hostages.

He explained that Wednesday’s successful operation was part of the sustained operations in the state to flush out criminals operating from other neighbouring states, including kidnappers, unknown gunmen and other unscrupulous elements.

“We were on the trail of these kidnappers for more than three months now. They had been operating within this axis where they kidnapped their victims and kept them at a large poultry farm at Ogbeke Nike until ransoms are paid.

“So, on a tipoff from members of the public who suspected the strange movements in the area and the accounts of some of the victims of these criminals, we swung into action. On sighting us, these men of the underworld opened fire on my men, and we quickly retaliated and overpowered them with our superior firepower,” he stressed.

Speaking further, SP Ezeh disclosed that the combined security task force, set up by the Enugu State governor, Mr Peter Mbah, as a tactical squad against kidnappings and activities of unknown gunmen, had recorded milestones in policing the state and flushing out criminal elements.

“This is a gallant crack squad with the mandate to eliminate every form of threat in the state. We have recorded huge successes over the past months. You know our role is not to rush to the media to tell our story but to ensure that every citizen and resident of the state has peace.

“I can tell you that we have already neutralized over 7 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 serve as rogue premises where kidnap victims and dangerous weapons are kept. These places include 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 neutralize over 30 of the kidnappers and recovered guns and valuables,” he said.

One of the rescued kidnap survivors, Dr Kate Pamela, said she was traumatized by the ugly experiences at the hands of the kidnappers.

“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 ten million naira each against the fifty million naira 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.

“Government must ensure justice by turning that place to a landfill,” Dr Pamela fumed.