The Enugu State Police Command has arrested two sisters, Juliet Chukwu and Ngozi Nancy Chukwu, for allegedly masterminding the abduction of their elder brother, Mr. Friday Chukwu.
Both suspects, who serve in Nigerian security agencies—Juliet in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Ngozi in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)—were accused of arranging the kidnapping, which took place last month along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway near the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, in Nkanu West Local Government Area.
According to sources familiar with the case, the sisters’ actions led to the payment of a ₦30 million ransom for Mr. Chukwu’s release. The victim hails from Amaeze village in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Further investigation reportedly linked the two to the recent abduction of the General Manager of China Oriental Mining Company, Engineer Dennis Igwe, who was also kidnapped in the same vicinity earlier this week. A ₦10 million ransom was allegedly paid for Igwe’s release.
Police operatives tracked the suspects to a hotel where they were reportedly caught while attempting to share the ransom money. Authorities say four other individuals believed to be part of the syndicate remain at large.
Commenting on the incident, the Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area, Chief Emmanuel Ajah, confirmed the arrests and said he had written to both the Enugu State Police Command and the Ebonyi Command of the NSCDC regarding the matter.
“Though the incidents occurred outside my jurisdiction, the safety of our people remains a top priority,” he said.
Local reports suggest the two sisters may be linked to a wider network of criminal activities in the Ishiagu area, including vandalism and collaboration with external criminal elements.
Efforts to reach the Ebonyi State Police Command for confirmation were unsuccessful as Police Public Relations Officer SP Joshua Ukandu did not respond to inquiries as of the time of filing this report.
Police say investigations are ongoing, and the remaining suspects are being pursued.
