Police arrest two kidnapper suspects, rescue pregnant woman in Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested two suspected kidnappers and rescued a pregnant woman unharmed along Eke-Egede road in Udi Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State.

Spokesperson of the command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement in Enugu on Saturday that police personnel had arrested two male kidnap suspects in connection with the incident following a careful investigation led by intelligence agencies. .

Mr. Ndukwe is accused of kidnapping a critically pregnant woman along Eke Egede road in Udi local government on April 22, 2024 at about 9:45 p.m. The identity of the suspect has not been made public for investigative reasons. he pointed out.

According to him, this was around noon on April 23, 2024, after the state Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, swiftly led a team of elite police operatives supplemented by Neighborhood Watch and Forest Guards to rescue the woman. It is said that it is about. 24 hours after the kidnapping.

He said: “The woman, later identified as Mrs. Chinwendu Igwe, was already on her due date and she gave birth to a baby boy who was rescued and taken to the hospital.

“Thanks to the generosity of the Enugu State Government, which covers the medical expenses of the mother and the newborn, she and the baby have been treated and are in good condition.

“Preliminary investigation into the incident revealed that the woman learned that she was within her due date, received no assistance, and for reasons that are yet to be clarified, decided to take her two children on an overland journey from Lagos to her paternal home. It has come to light that Udi's home in Egede, LGA.

“She arrived at 9th Mile around 9 p.m. Since there was no convenient transportation, she took a commercial motorcycle. The motorcycle driver was unable to meet her due to her pregnant condition. I chose to carry my two children.”

“But on the way, the kidnappers attacked them, beat up the motorcyclist and abducted the woman to the forest, leaving the riders and children behind. Later, a team of police operatives gathered information about the incident. I intercepted it and responded.”

A command spokesperson said the police chief had ordered a general search for other members of the kidnapper group.

Ndukwe said he always strives for accuracy and objectivity when reporting this type of security information to avoid misinforming unsuspecting members of the public or violating laws and journalistic ethics. He said he has ordered media companies to maintain the system.

“However, the Commissioner frowned at the fact that Mrs. Igwe had decided to embark on such a long journey without assistance by road, given her serious pregnancy and the travel time to her final destination.

“She did not even consider asking her husband, who lives in the big city of Enugu, to stop by her parents’ house later and take her.”

In view of this development, the Secretary urged everyone to act with caution and caution in such situations.

Source: guardian.ng