Written by Stevenie Ojijiagwo
The Imo State Police Command has recorded another major breakthrough in its ongoing fight against kidnapping and
violent crime, following a daring operation deep inside the Egbema River creeks that led to the arrest of suspected kidnap kingpins, the rescue of kidnapped victims, and the recovery of a large cache of weapons and ammunition.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Owerri on Wednesday, the Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, PSC(+), MNIPS, disclosed that the operation was the outcome of sustained intelligence gathering and tactical follow-up actions by operatives of the Command.
According to the Commissioner, the Command has, within the last two months, arrested 184 suspects for offences including kidnapping, terrorism, armed robbery, cultism, murder, defilement, rape, sexual assault, vehicle snatching, stealing, receiving stolen property, and other violent crimes. He added that three kidnapped victims were rescued unharmed during the period.
Bosso revealed that the Command recovered two AK-47 rifles, 11 AK-47 magazines, three M16 rifle magazines, five locally made cut-to-size guns, four locally made pistols, 382 rounds of assorted ammunition, 18 live cartridges, an empty Beretta magazine, a Toyota Highlander SUV, a Mercedes-Benz GLK, three Q-Link motorcycles, a Sumec generator, eight cult caps, a human skull, and assorted criminal charms.
He explained that the latest breakthrough followed the arrest of two suspected kidnap kingpins—Confidence Vitalis, 28, of Ukugba, Egbema, Ohaji/Egbema LGA, Imo State, and Ishiaya Rejoice, 32, of Emuoha, Rivers State.
Acting on information obtained from their confessional statements, police operatives on July 6, 2026, stormed a suspected kidnappers' and terrorists' hideout hidden within the Egbema River creeks.
The operation followed the successful rescue of a kidnapped victim on June 30, 2026, who had been abducted three days earlier by the same criminal gang.
The Commissioner said the operation led to the dislodgement of the gang's camp and the arrest of seven additional suspects. Police also recovered one AK-47 rifle, four AK-47 magazines, 16 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, three locally made cut-to-size guns, 16 live cartridges, an empty Beretta magazine, 20 rounds of GPMG ammunition, a human skull, and assorted criminal charms.
He noted that the rescued victims positively identified several of the arrested suspects as members of the gang responsible for their abduction.
Further investigations, according to Bosso, revealed that the same syndicate was responsible for the killing of two personnel of the Imo State Homeland Security at Umuguma in Owerri West Local Government Area on May 16, 2026, during an attempted kidnap of Mrs. Betty Oluchi Dike.
The Police Commissioner said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the criminal network.
In another intelligence-led operation on July 7, 2026, police operatives raided the Obiakpu swamps in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, where they recovered an additional 346 rounds of live ammunition, including 122 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 148 rounds of M16 ammunition, and 76 rounds of 9mm Beretta ammunition, along with seven magazines comprising four AK-47 magazines and three M16 magazines.
The Commissioner also disclosed that detectives arrested Nduka Iheme, 58, of Umuakabia, Orsu Local Government Area, on June 24, 2026, for allegedly sexually abusing two 15-year-old girls.
According to him, the suspect allegedly lured the victims to his residence under the guise of offering them employment before sexually assaulting them. The victims were taken for medical examination, while the suspect has made useful statements. The matter will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Similarly, Bosso announced the arrest of Chijoke Johnson, 19, of Akpuru Nnorie, Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area, for the alleged defilement of an eight-year-old girl.
The incident reportedly occurred on June 4, 2026, when the child visited the suspect's residence to fetch water. He allegedly forced her inside and sexually assaulted her. Medical examination confirmed evidence of defilement, while the suspect reportedly confessed during interrogation.
The Commissioner described the successes as a clear demonstration of the Command's determination to rid Imo State of criminal elements.
He commended the courage, professionalism, and resilience of the officers involved in the operations and expressed appreciation to residents whose timely and credible information contributed to the breakthroughs.
Bosso assured the people of Imo State that the Command would continue intelligence-driven operations until every criminal network operating within the state is dismantled.
He also urged members of the public to sustain their cooperation with the Police by providing useful information that would aid ongoing efforts to secure lives and property across the state.
