Imo police have rescued three abducted individuals, seized weapons, and arrested twelve criminals.
When asked about the ongoing onslaught against violent crime through intelligence-led policing, Command Spokesperson Henry Okoye told journalists that it has been sustained under state police commissioner Audu Garba Bosso.
He disclosed that twelve individuals were apprehended in different operations by Command operatives under the leadership of ACP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa for crimes involving kidnapping, cultism, murder, and other violent offences during the period under review.
In addition to freeing the three hostages, he said that the operations had retrieved an AK-47 rifle, two locally manufactured double-barrel weapons, four locally manufactured handguns, and two live ammunition.
Three Q-Link motorcycles, one Sumec generator set, eight branded cult caps, one ash-colored Mercedes-Benz GLK Jeep, one blue Toyota Highlander SUV without a registration number, and one blue SUV without a number are among the other things found.
Following the recent abduction of five passengers from a commuter bus along Obokofia Road in Ohaji –Egbema LGA of the State and a young man in New Owerri within the State Capital, Okoye suggested that the Command escalated its activities.
An operation spearheaded by intelligence was started by the State Police Command to rescue the victims and capture the criminals.
He said that the Command’s operatives, working in tandem with the Egbema Police Division, had raided a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in Obokofia, Ohaji/Egbema LGA, based on credible intelligence. The operation had a successful outcome, with three kidnapped victims rescued unharmed and seven gang members arrested. Suspects who managed to escape were being pursued.
The following individuals were named by the Command’s Spokesperson as suspects: Yahoo Welder, a resident of Ughelli South LGA, Delta State, Eric John, an 18-year-old named Light Chukwuma Obinna, Sylvester Nnadike, a 60-year-old from Obokofia, Ohaji/Egbema LGA, Destiny Albert, 22, and Caroline Oziomele, 25.