By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri
The Imo State Police Command has announced that its operatives have successfully dislodged a kidnappers’ camp at the Egbema River Creek and arrested seven suspects found there during the operation.
Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Audu Garba Bosso, who made the disclosure while addressing newsmen during a press conference at the command headquarters, Owerri hinted that the sweeping raid in the camp followed the arrest and confessional statements of two kidnapping kingpins, Confidence Vitalis (28) of Ukugba, Egbema in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, and Ishiaya Rejoice (32) of Emuoha in Rivers State, on 6th July, 2026.
CP Bosso revealed that the Command successfully rescued a kidnapped victim in Egbema who was abducted on 27th June, 2026 by the same kidnapping syndicate on 30th June, 2026 and Intelligence obtained from the rescue operation, led to the subsequent arrest of the kingpins, while their confessional statements led operatives to the suspects’ hideout for the said operation.
He said, “During the operation, the camp was successfully dislodged and seven additional suspects were arrested (who are sighted there).
“During the operation, the Command recovered one AK-47 rifle, four AK-47 magazines, sixteen rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, three locally made cut-to-size guns, sixteen live cartridges, one empty Beretta magazine, twenty rounds of GPMG ammunition, one human skull, and assorted criminal charms.
“The rescued victims identified some of the arrested suspects as members of the gang responsible for their abduction.
“Further investigation established that the same criminal gang was responsible for the killing of two personnel of the Imo State Homeland Security at Umuguma, Owerri West Local Government Area, on 16th May, 2026, during an attempt to kidnap Mrs. Betty Oluchi Dike. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.”
Continuing, the Imo Police boss disclosed that on 7th July, 2026, acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Imo State Police Command stormed the Obiakpu swamps in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, where they recovered an additional cache of 346 rounds of live ammunition, comprising 122 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 148 rounds of M16 rifle ammunition, and 76 rounds of 9mm Beretta pistol ammunition.
He added that the operatives also recovered seven magazines, comprising four AK-47 rifle magazines and three M16 rifle magazines.
“In a different development, detectives of the Imo State Police Command arrested Nduka Iheme, ‘m’, a 58-year-old resident of Umuakabia, Orsu LGA, on June 24, 2026, for alleged sexual abuse of two 15-year-old minors. The arrest followed complaints by the victims’ parents. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly lured the victims to his residence under the pretext of offering them a job and had unlawful carnal knowledge of the victims against the order of nature.
“The victims were taken for medical examination, while the suspect has made useful statements. The case will be charged to court.
“Similarly, on June 4, 2026, Chijoke Johnson, a 19-year-old from Akpuru Nnorie, Ngor-Okpala LGA, was apprehended for the alleged defilement of an 8-year-old minor. The incident occurred when the victim visited Johnson’s residence to fetch water, during which he allegedly forced her inside and had unlawful carnal knowledge of her. Medical examinations confirmed signs of defilement, and Johnson has confessed to the crime,” CP Bosso said.
