Imo Police Rescue Three Kidnap Victims, Arrest 12 Crime Suspects
The Imo State Police Command has rescued three kidnapped victims and arrested 12 suspects linked to kidnapping, cultism, murder and other violent crimes in a series of intelligence-led operations across the state.
The breakthrough was announced on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, who said the operations were carried out under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba , with tactical teams led by Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa.
According to the police, the operations were conducted in collaboration with other security agencies, local vigilante groups and community stakeholders, resulting in the rescue of three abducted victims, the arrest of 12 suspects and the recovery of firearms, vehicles, motorcycles and other incriminating exhibits.
Okoye said the rescue operation followed the abduction of five passengers travelling in a commercial bus along Obokofia Road in Egbema and the kidnapping of a young man in New Owerri on June 27, 2026.
He said intelligence gathered after the incidents led operatives to a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in Obokofia, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, where they struck on June 30, 2026.
“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Command, in synergy with operatives of Egbema Police Division, raided a suspected kidnappers’ hideout at Obokofia in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, rescuing three kidnapped victims unharmed and arresting seven suspected members of the gang.”
“Other members of the syndicate fled the scene and are currently being trailed,” Okoye said.
The seven suspects arrested in connection with the kidnapping include Eric John, also known as “Yahoo Welder,” 30, from Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, alongside Light Chukwuma, Obinna Osuamma, Sylvester Nnadike, Tochukwu Precious, Destiny Albert and Caroline Oziomele, all residents of Obokofia in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area.
Police investigations revealed that one of the rescued victims identified Eric John as one of the kidnappers responsible for his abduction.
The Command further disclosed that the gang had allegedly collected ₦5 million from the victim’s relatives before demanding an additional ₦50 million ransom prior to the police raid that secured the victims’ freedom.
Recovered exhibits from the operation include one AK-47 rifle, two locally made double-barrel guns, four locally made pistols, two live cartridges, 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, one Sumec generator set and eight branded cult caps.
In a separate operation conducted on June 21, 2026, police arrested five suspected members of the Senior Vikings Confraternity (SVC) during a raid at Okuku in Owerri West Local Government Area.
The suspects were identified as Iwuagwu Innocent, Okparaugo Kingsley, Uchenna Akagha, Nsubechi Ekezie and Nwaneri Chigemezue.
According to Okoye, the suspects confessed during interrogation to participating in a cult initiation ceremony held on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at Umuome, Umuguma, during which an unidentified man was allegedly beaten to death.
He said police subsequently visited the location and recovered the decomposed body of the deceased, while follow-up operations led to the recovery of two locally made pistols and two live cartridges.
“Investigation is ongoing to establish the identity of the deceased and apprehend other fleeing members of the group,” Okoye said.
Reaffirming the Command’s commitment to public safety, Commissioner of Police Audu Garba said the fight against violent crime would be sustained through intelligence-driven policing and stronger collaboration with security agencies, vigilante groups and members of the public.
“The Imo State Police Command, under the leadership of Audu Garba, continues to sustain its offensive against violent crime through intelligence-led policing and effective collaboration with other security agencies, local vigilante groups, and critical stakeholders,” Okoye quoted the Commissioner as saying.
The police urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons or activities, stressing that timely and credible information remains crucial to protecting lives and property across Imo State.
