The Imo State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing crackdown on violent crime, arresting 12 suspected criminals, rescuing three kidnapped victims, and recovering a cache of firearms and other exhibits in separate intelligence-led operations across the state.
Addressing journalists in Owerri on Tuesday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, said the operations were carried out under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, as part of sustained efforts to tackle kidnapping, cultism, murder, and other violent crimes.
According to Okoye, the coordinated operations, led by ACP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, resulted in the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, two locally made double-barrel guns, four locally fabricated pistols, and two live cartridges.
Other items recovered include a blue Toyota Highlander SUV without a registration number, an ash-coloured Mercedes-Benz GLK Jeep with registration number YAB 831 DQ, three Q-Link motorcycles, a Sumec generator, and eight branded cult caps.
The police spokesperson explained that the operations followed the recent abduction of five passengers from a commercial bus along Obokofia Road in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area and the kidnapping of a young man in New Owerri.
Acting on credible intelligence, police operatives, in collaboration with officers from the Egbema Police Division, stormed a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in Obokofia, where they rescued three kidnapped victims unharmed and arrested seven suspected members of the gang. Other members of the gang reportedly escaped and are currently being tracked.
The arrested suspects were identified as Eric John, also known as “Yahoo Welder,” from Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State; Light Chukwuma Obinna, 18; Sylvester Nnadike, 60; Destiny Albert, 22; and Caroline Oziomele, 25, all from Obokofia in Ohaji/Egbema LGA, alongside other suspects.
Okoye disclosed that one of the rescued victims positively identified Eric John as one of those involved in his abduction. Investigations further revealed that the gang had already collected ₦5 million from the victim’s family and demanded an additional ₦50 million ransom before the police rescued the victim.
In a separate operation, police operatives arrested five suspected members of the Senior Vikings Confraternity (SVC) while allegedly engaging in cult-related activities at Okuku in Owerri West Local Government Area.
According to the police, the suspects confessed during interrogation to participating in a cult initiation ceremony at Umuome, Umuguma, which allegedly resulted in the death of an unidentified man.
The Commissioner of Police reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to intensifying the fight against crime through intelligence-driven policing and strengthened collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilante groups.
He also urged residents to remain security conscious and promptly report suspicious movements or criminal activities to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency line, stressing that timely and credible information remains crucial in safeguarding lives and property.
