This was made known in a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, on Wednesday.
The statement read, “Enugu State Police Command’s operatives serving in Ezinze Police Division, complemented by the Neighbourhood Watch Group, on March 31, 2024, at about 6:15 p.m., rescued victims alleged to have earlier been kidnapped on the same date, at about 4:55 p.m., along Eke/Ebe Road in Udi Local Government Area, after a fierce gun battle with the abductors, who abandoned the victims and fled.
“The immediate rescue was due to the team’s swift response upon receipt of information alleging that the victims, who were plying the road in two Mercedes Benz 4Matic Jeeps, were attacked and abducted into the forest.
“However, further operations to hunt down the abductors are ongoing.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, has condemned the viral video, alleging that another police team that further responded to the incident, but without clear knowledge of the location of the first responding team, refused to go into the forest to rescue the same victims. This is even when the operatives had only arrived at the scene and were awaiting necessary intelligence guidance before proceeding into the forest to avoid any form of collateral damage.
“The commissioner further described the allegations contained in the viral video as an unfortunate act of mischief that is obviously aimed at maligning and detracting the police from frontally tackling and purging Enugu State of diehard criminals and their activities.
“He also emphasizes that the video was without doubt a gimmick intended to misinform and mislead the public, stressing that the command will, however, not waver in its quest to rid Enugu State of unrepentant criminals and their activities despite the mischievous detraction.”
