Police in Imo State Arrest 12 Suspected Criminals and Rescue Three Kidnapped Victims

The Imo State Police Command says they rescued three people who were kidnapped and arrested 12 suspects in different operations. These operations focused on kidnapping, cult activities, murder, and other violent crimes in the state.

Henry Okoye, the state Police Public Relations Officer, shared this information in a statement on Wednesday.

During these operations, the police recovered an AK-47 rifle, four locally made guns, two live cartridges, two vehicles, three motorcycles, a generator, and eight cult caps.

Okoye explained that these operations were based on intelligence-led policing. They worked closely with other security agencies, local vigilantes, and important community members.

The rescue came after five passengers were kidnapped from a commercial bus on Obokofia Road in Egbema. A young man was also taken in New Owerri on June 27.

He said, "Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Command, along with the Egbema Police Division, raided a suspected kidnappers’ hideout at Obokofia in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area on June 30, 2026. They rescued three kidnapped victims unharmed and arrested seven suspected gang members. Some other gang members ran away and are being chased."

Okoye named the suspects as Eric John, also known as “Yahoo Welder,” 30, from Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State; Light Chukwuma, 18; Obinna Osuamma, 18; Sylvester Nnadike, 60; Tochukwu Precious, 22; Destiny Albert, 22; and Caroline Oziomele, 25.

He noted that the police found an AK-47 rifle, two locally made double-barrel guns, two locally made pistols, a blue Toyota Highlander SUV without a registration number, an ash-coloured Mercedes-Benz GLK belonging to one of the rescued victims, three Q-Link motorcycles, a Sumec generator, and eight branded cult caps.

One of the rescued victims reportedly pointed out Eric John as a member of the gang that kidnapped him. The police said the gang had collected a N5 million ransom from the victim’s family and later asked for another N50 million before he was freed during the police operation.

Okoye mentioned that another operation on June 21 led to the arrest of five suspected members of the Senior Vikings Confraternity in Okuku, Owerri West Local Government Area.

He identified the suspects as Iwuagwu Innocent Chigozie, 26; Okparaugo Kingsley, 32; Uchenna Daniel Akagha, 23; Nsubechi Ekezie, 25; and Nwaneri Chigemezue, 28.

According to the PPRO, the suspects admitted to being part of a cult initiation ceremony on May 24 at Umuome, Umuguma. During that event, an unidentified man was allegedly beaten to death.

He said, "Acting on the information, operatives went to the scene and found the decomposed body. Follow-up operations at the suspects’ hideouts also led to the recovery of two locally made pistols and two live cartridges."

Investigation is still in progress to find out who the deceased is and to catch other members of the group who are still on the run. The state’s Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, emphasized the command’s commitment to fighting violent crime. He also urged residents to stay alert and share timely information with security agencies.