A swift, intelligence-led operation by the Enugu State Police Command rescued a kidnapped woman and neutralised one suspected kidnapper following a fierce gun battle in the forest bordering Enugu and Kogi states.

The operation, carried out in collaboration with the Enugu State Forest Guards and members of the Neighbourhood Watch, was launched after armed men abducted the woman along Anuka Road in Okpuje, Nsukka Local Government Area.

Police said they received the distress call at about 10:10 a.m. on Friday, prompting the Divisional Police Officer of Okpuje Division to deploy a joint security team to the area.

The operatives tracked the kidnappers into the dense Anuka forest near the Enugu-Kogi boundary, where they engaged the gang in a gunfight.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, police neutralised one suspected kidnapper during the exchange of gunfire, while other gang members escaped into the forest with suspected gunshot wounds.

Police also rescued the abducted woman unhurt; her two children, whom the kidnappers had abandoned at the scene, were safely recovered alongside a motorcycle left behind by the fleeing suspects.

“The victim and her children have since been reunited with their family, while efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects,” Ndukwe said.

Reacting to the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the professionalism and swift response of the Police operatives, Forest Guards and Neighbourhood Watch members whose coordinated action led to the victim’s rescue.

He said the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence sharing and inter-agency collaboration in combating kidnapping and other violent crimes.

The Commissioner reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to sustain intelligence-driven operations across the state, stressing that criminal elements would continue to face relentless pressure from security agencies.

He also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and support ongoing security efforts by volunteering credible, timely information capable of preventing crime and facilitating the arrest of fleeing suspects. (The Nation)