Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has commended security agencies for arrest of three members of a kidnap gang linked to August 2 attack on St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Inoyi-Affa, Udi LGA.

A joint operation by the Department of State Services, Army, Police and Enugu State Forest Guard led to a gun battle. One suspect was neutralised and four AK-47 rifles and ammunition were recovered.

Mbah gave the commendation on Monday night after visiting the state DSS headquarters to see the arrested suspects.

He was represented by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, who said two of three victims, Seminarian Lawrence Igbo and Mr Emmanuel Onwudi, have regained freedom and identified the suspects.

Victims Identify Suspects After Rescue

Onyia said, “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 said the state has built a robust security architecture to make Enugu unsafe 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,” he said.

The Catholic Church is central to community life in Enugu. The attack on St Joseph’s Church on August 2 shocked residents. The church is under the Catholic Diocese of Enugu.

Warning To Informants And Criminal Collaborators

Onyia warned residents against working with criminal gangs as informants.

“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,” he said.

He praised the DSS, Nigerian Army, Police and Forest Guard for 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,” he said.

The Enugu State Government has invested in AI-powered security cameras and forest guards to fight kidnapping in rural areas.