Enugu State police command has announced that at least 27 kidnappers, including members of the notorious group known as ‘Auto Pilot,’ have been killed in the state over the past two weeks.
The group, often referred to as “unknown gunmen,” is a breakaway faction of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and has been terrorizing the region for some time.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Ugwuogo Nike-Opi Road, Police Superintendent Onochie Ezeh, who led a joint security operation, confirmed the successful rescue of kidnap victims and the killing of a 7-man gang of kidnappers at Ogbeke Nike. The kidnappers had been using a large poultry farm as a hideout for their hostages.
“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,” said SP Ezeh.
He added, “On a tip-off 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.”
Ezeh further explained that the success of this operation is part of a broader effort by the combined security task force set up by Governor Mbah to combat kidnappings and the activities of unknown gunmen. “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.”
He continued, “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.”
In addition to the successful operations, Ezeh revealed that many criminal hideouts were identified, including locations like New Artisan Market, Akwuke community, Akegbe-Ugwu, Four Corners, Awgu, Mgbowo, Emene, Eke, 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,” he added.
Meanwhile, residents of Enugu State are urging Governor Mbah to take further action by demolishing properties used as hideouts for kidnappers.
Senior lawyer Chief Ani Iheanacho stressed the importance of using existing laws to demolish such buildings. “We cannot continue like this. Yes, beyond going after the criminals, the governor must show both political and legal courage to go after properties used as hostage holding cells and bring them down irrespective of who the owner or owners are,” he said.
Dr. Kate Pamela, one of the survivors rescued from the kidnappers, shared her traumatic experience.
“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 N10 million each against the N50 million 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 into a landfill,” Dr. Pamela stated.
