In a decisive move to combat escalating criminal activity, over 30 kidnappers, including members of the notorious Biafra Auto Pilot faction, have been neutralized by security operatives across Enugu State in the past two weeks.
The Biafra Auto Pilot group, also known as Unknown Gunmen, is a violent splinter faction of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Finland-based Simon Ekpa. Their activities have terrorized Enugu and surrounding areas.
Governor Peter Mbah’s media office confirmed the successful operations on Wednesday morning, quoting Police Superintendent Onochie Ezeh, who led the joint security task force in the latest operation aimed at rescuing kidnap victims along the Ugwuogo Nike-Opi Road.
During the operation, a seven-man gang of kidnappers was killed at Ogbeke Nike, where they had been using a large poultry farm as a hideout for their hostages. SP Ezeh revealed that this mission was part of a larger campaign to root out criminal elements operating from neighboring states, including kidnappers and unknown gunmen.
“We’ve been tracking these kidnappers for over three months. They operated in this area, using the poultry farm as a cover to hold their victims until ransom was paid,” Ezeh explained. “A tipoff from the public and the accounts of former victims helped us close in on them. When they opened fire on us, we swiftly retaliated and overwhelmed them with superior firepower.”
SP Ezeh further highlighted the effectiveness of the combined security task force established by Governor Mbah. The tactical squad has made significant strides in combating kidnappings and the activities of unknown gunmen across Enugu State.
“This is a dedicated crack squad with a mandate to eliminate all threats in the state. We’ve made remarkable progress over the past few months. Our focus isn’t on media publicity but on ensuring safety for every resident in the state,” Ezeh said. “We’ve neutralized over seven criminal gangs, most of them kidnappers and unknown gunmen. We’re taking the fight to their strongholds and won’t stop until Enugu is free from these threats.”
Ezeh also disclosed that several criminal hideouts had been identified and dismantled during the operations. These locations, including New Artisan Market, Akwuke, Akegbe-Ugwu, and parts of Udi and Isi Uzo local governments, were used to hold kidnap victims and store dangerous weapons. Over 30 kidnappers were neutralized, and numerous firearms and valuables were recovered in these operations.
One of the survivors of the kidnappings, Dr. Kate Pamela, shared her harrowing experience. She was held for five days in the Ogbeke Nike poultry farm before being rescued. Dr. Pamela expressed her ongoing trauma and frustration, calling for the demolition of the poultry farm used as a hideout by the criminals.
“Every time I pass by that poultry, I feel justice hasn’t been served. They kept us there for five days and even killed two victims because their families couldn’t meet the ransom demands. I saw the bodies of three kidnappers who were killed, but I believe the government must ensure justice by clearing that place completely,” Dr. Pamela urged.
With the combined efforts of the security forces and the state government, Enugu residents hope for a lasting reprieve from the terror inflicted by kidnappers and criminal gangs in the region.
