Security Operatives Kill Five Kidnappers Along Enugu, Benue Borders

Five kidnappers were killed by joint security operations of Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu and their Benue State counterparts on Thursday, THE WHISTLER reports. The operatives consisted of local vigilantes, forest guards, police, and the military.

The kidnappers, numbering about seven, had attacked some people at Orba community before kidnapping an Anglican priest at Ezimo in the early hours of Thursday. They had whisked their victim away through Umuosigide and Obollo-Eke to Okpakerekere en route to Benue State when the security operatives acting on intelligence swooped on them.

A member of the security team, on condition of anonymity, said when they got the hint, they trailed their foot marks, but all efforts to track them did not yield results immediately because they had gone far.

He said, “We extended the search to Amalla, but did not track them. We then returned to Egu-Ogwu/Okpakerekere axis where we got them. They opened fire on us. We returned fire, leading to the death of one of them who was carrying an AK47 rifle.”

It was learnt that the remaining suspects escaped after a hot pursuit, but were challenged by vigilantes on the Benue borders. “They met formidable vigilantes who overpowered them. Four of them were killed while the remaining two escaped with gunshot injuries,” said a wiiiitness.

A viral video showed the corpses of the suspects killed on Benue borders with locals commending the efforts of security operatives that neutralised them. A voice was heard saying, “All of them don die. They have been terrorising us. A moment of relief has come.”

Enugu State Police Command on Thursday had announced the killing of one of them. Its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the kidnapped clergy was also rescued unharmed. He stated that the rescue followed a report received in the early hours of 29th January, 2026, that a male victim was abducted by armed men.

He stated that, “Upon the receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bitrus Giwa, ordered the immediate mobilisation of security operatives in the area. During the operations in Egu-Shire and Okpakerekere forest areas on the same day, the operatives encountered the kidnappers who opened fire on them. The operatives responded with mastery and precision, neutralising one of them while others fled deeper into the forest bordering Benue State with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.”

He listed the items recovered from them to include one AK-47 rifle loaded with twenty rounds of live ammunition, one extra magazine, two daggers, military camouflage uniforms, mobile phones, assorted food items, and freshly slaughtered chicken.

Meanwhile, a security expert, James Omaga, has commended the Chairman of Udenu LGA, Mr Aka Eze Aka, for maximizing security in the area.

“He has done well, and that is the reason these hoodlums got a huge chase after the kidnap,” Omaga said. “Udenu central security operatives were deployed immediately, and that is why the outcome ended this way. The synergy between Udenu security architecture and its Benue counterparts also paid off.

“The criminals should now realise that no part of Udenu is a go-area. They should turn a new leaf or be ready to face decimation. With these breakthroughs, I expect more intelligence reports to our security agencies to enable them to act with precision.”