Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has showered praise on intelligence and security agencies for the arrest of three members of a notorious kidnapping gang responsible for the August 2, 2026 attack on St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Inoyi-Affa, in Udi Local Government Area, declaring that Enugu State will remain a hostile ground for criminals and their collaborators. The governor's commendation came during a visit to the state headquarters of the Department of State Services in Enugu on Monday night, August 10, 2026, where he inspected the arrested suspects and addressed journalists.
The joint operation, which involved the DSS, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Enugu State Forest Guard, and other security personnel, led to a fierce gun battle with the suspected kidnappers. One suspected member of the kidnapping gang was neutralised during the confrontation, while the security team recovered four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines, and 133 rounds of ammunition from the hideouts of the syndicate. The operation also resulted in the recovery of ransoms that had been deployed as a strategic measure, with security agents tracking down the criminals using the state's hi-tech security assets.
Speaking through the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, who represented him at the event, Governor Mbah disclosed that two of the three victims abducted during the August 2 attack had regained their freedom. The victims, identified as Seminarian Lawrence Igbo and Mr Emmanuel Onwudi, had fully identified the apprehended men as their abductors. The governor assured the people of Enugu State that his administration would continue to prioritise and invest in the security of their lives and properties.
Reflecting on the operation, the SSG declared: "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 stressed that the state government remained intentional in investing in and organising its 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 declared.
The governor's representative also issued a stern warning to locals who collude with criminal elements or serve as their informants, vowing that they would be tracked down and prosecuted as part of the criminal 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 operation against the Affa Church kidnappers marks a significant victory in Enugu State's ongoing battle against kidnapping and organised crime. The August 2 attack on St. Joseph's Catholic Church, which saw the abduction of worshippers including a seminarian, had sent shockwaves through the community and heightened concerns over the security of religious institutions across the state. The successful arrest of the suspects and the recovery of weapons and ransom demonstrate the effectiveness of intelligence-led joint operations in disrupting criminal networks.
Governor Mbah, through the SSG, paid special tribute to 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 governor emphasised that his administration had made it clear from the outset that Enugu State would not be a safe haven for criminals. "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," he said.
The recovery of four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines, and 133 rounds of ammunition from the kidnappers' hideouts represents a significant blow to the operational capacity of the syndicate. The fact that ransom was also recovered indicates that the security forces were able to track and intercept the criminals' financial operations, further disrupting their ability to sustain their activities. The victims' identification of the arrested suspects as their abductors provides a crucial link in the chain of evidence that will support their prosecution.
As the investigation continues and the arrested suspects await prosecution, the message from Enugu State is clear: the era of impunity for kidnappers is over. Governor Mbah's administration has demonstrated that it is willing to invest in the security architecture necessary to protect its citizens and bring criminals to justice. The successful operation against the Affa Church kidnappers stands as a testament to what can be achieved when security agencies collaborate effectively and when the government provides the resources and political will to confront crime head-on.
For the people of Enugu State, the arrest of the suspects and the rescue of the victims offer a measure of relief and a renewed sense of confidence in the ability of the state to protect them. The governor's warning to criminals and their collaborators serves as a powerful deterrent, signalling that Enugu State is no longer a place where criminality can thrive. As the SSG put it: "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".
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