Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Police operatives in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State in conjunction with Neighborhood Watch personnel from Adaba and Umulokpa have rescued nine kidnapped victims after a gun duel.
The nine persons were abducted along Amagu-Umulokpa-Olo road at about 18:30hrs by gunmen.
The kidnappers, however, met their Waterloo while trying to cross their victims through Anambra forest as the joint local security operatives from Adaba/Umulokpa, in collaboration with a DPO in Oji River and the Area commander Ezeagu region, intercepted them and after a shootout, rescued the victims between Ukpata and Uvuru in Uzo Uwani.
The Special Adviser on Communication & Strategy to the Chairman of Uzo Uwani LGA, Mr Solomon Gwiyi, said the victims were on their way from Umulokpa/Adaba to Enugu after Eke market, when the kidnappers shot at the bus conveying them.
He said: “Upon the breaking of the unfortunate incident the joint Neighborhood Watch groups, mobilised its operatives into the forest along that axis for their possible rescue and the arrest of the perpetrators.
“When they couldn’t find the abductors on Wednesday evening, they remobilised on Thursday morning, 22nd of May, 2025, alongside two top police officers who joined in the search exercise.
“The operations eventually paid off as the Operatives from Adaba engaged them from their axis, while the operatives from Umulokpa angle alongside the police closed-in on them from the other end in a gun duel, which forced them to escape with gunshot injuries, leaving the victims behind.
“Efforts are ongoing to ensure the arrest of these miscreants and other criminal elements in the LGA.”
Gwiyi said that the rescued victims were currently cooling off at Adaba while the security operatives are on the trail of the fleeing kidnappers.
According to him, some items were recovered including cash and other items abandoned by the abductors while they escaped for their lives.
“While we commend the Chairman of Uzo Uwani LGA, Barr. Chijioke Ezugwu, for providing every necessary logistics and welfare for the Neighborhood Watch operatives, we also commend the gallantry of the combined operations of Adaba/Umulokpa Neighborhood Watch, as well as the police authorities involved for prioritising the maximum safety of the people of our LGA,” he said.
