2012: Enugu Police arrest 503 suspects, record 99 kidnap cases

About 503 persons were arrested by the Enugu State police command for various offences between March and December 2012.

The state commissioner of police,  Mr. Musa Daura, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the achievements of the command last year.

He said suspects arrested within the period under review, included 99 for kidnapping, 201 for armed robbery, 37 for cultism, 21 for car snatching, six for NITEL and PHCN cables vandalism, eight for unlawful possession of fire arms/ammunition as well as 101 suspected members of Biafra Zionist Movement and 20 members of MASSOB.

He added that 10 other suspects were apprehended for other related offences.

The CP further hinted that the command rescued a total of 14 kidnap victims while 79 armed robbery cases were reported  during the period.

Daura said his command recovered a total of 87 arms and ammunitions, 68 locally-made pistols, 10 locally-made double barrel short guns, one revolver pistol of six rounds, four AK47 riffles, three Pump Action guns, one Brownie pistol and a total of 150 cartridges.

He further submitted that a total of 120 vehicles were recovered.

Of the 79 armed robbery cases reported, a total of 201 suspects were arrested and prosecuted accordingly, while a total of 14 kidnap cases were reported, leading to the arrest  of 99 suspects who were prosecuted.

Daura noted that despite these achievements, the command faced several challenges in the discharge of its functions.

”The challenges may be numerous but essentially, the inability of some members of the public to give timely and useful information to the police has been a source of worry just as inadequate number of patrol vehicles and other logistics are militating against our smooth operation,” the CP said.

He, however,  thanked the Inspector General of Police Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, for his fatherly support to the command.

He also expressed appreciation for the collaborative efforts of sister security agencies in the state, the media, all relevant stake holders in the business of security in the state and other members of the public while applauding  his officers and men for their commitment towards battling crimes in the state.