By Jude Onyenedogha
The Imo State Police Command said it has recorded tremendous successes in its intensified fight against violent crimes and criminal syndicates across the state in the past six months, as it arrested a total of 2785 criminal suspects, rescued 58 kidnap victims and 42 stolen children.
This was contained in a press statement by the Command’s public relations officer, Henry Okoye, made available to The Statesman in Owerri.
According to the statement, over the past six months, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, alongside other Divisions and Formations have arrested 2,785 suspects for serious offences, including kidnapping, terrorism, murder, armed robbery, cultism, child trafficking, among others.
It disclosed that these operations also resulted in the rescue of 58 kidnap victims and 42 stolen children, many of whom have been joyfully reunited with their families.
The statement added that investigation into the cases resulted in the recovery of a large cache of arms, ammunition and explosives, including two GPMG, 14 AK-47s, 20 pump-action guns, four fabricated rocket launchers, seven gas-cylinder explosives, locally made hand grenades, assorted rounds of live ammunition, cartridges, Biafran flags, criminal charms, among others.
“Among the key suspects arrested are; AmechiOnyebuchi (38), OziomaIhedoro (39), Cyprian Ikpegbunam (50), and UchennaOpara (30)—notorious members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN. These individuals were responsible for multiple attacks on security formations and public infrastructure in Njaba LGA.
“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, in collaboration with other tactical teams, raided an IPOB/ESN camp in Njaba, arrested the suspects, and recovered high-grade weapons and explosives. During interrogation, they confessed to the kidnap and murder of Emmanuel Oguzie, allegedly on the orders of a wanted ESN commander known as Asari.
Further, the statement disclosed that in a separate, but related case, two suspected kidnappers, UcheNwachukwu (24) and ChinonsoOzirim (32), were arrested for abducting AnayoIwuoha in his Compound at Akabo on June 20, 2025. The syndicate held the victim at ChinonsoOzirim’s residence, collecting a ₦2.2 million ransom before a joint operation by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and local vigilantes led to his rescue and the arrest of the suspects, adding that manhunt was ongoing for their fleeing accomplices.
“Also recently apprehended is Wisdom ChinazaekpereOgbonna (36) of Orlu LGA, a notorious member of the Vikings Confraternity. Ogbonna had been on the run for two years following the brutal murder of a young man known as “Pikin,” who was mistakenly identified as a rival cultist and butchered with knives by Ogbonna and three other gang members.
“He was recently apprehended by operatives of Orlu Division for burglary and stealing, but upon further profiling and transfer to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, he was identified as one of the cultists involved in the heinous murder”.
The statement concluded by disclosing that all the suspects will be arraigned in court upon completion of investigation.
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