The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has ordered a major security operation in Imo State following the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members and other passengers.
Disu has sent the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Shehu Nadada, to the state to coordinate the search-and-rescue mission.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped on Thursday, October 1, around Umunoha, along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State.
Nadada arrived in Imo with two Commissioners of Police and immediately went to the affected area to assess the situation and review efforts already underway to locate the victims.
He was joined by the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso; the Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations, CP Akpan Anifiok; the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force, other security commanders and members of the Imo police management team.
The police leadership reviewed the deployment of personnel, tactical teams and other operational equipment being used in the rescue mission.
Following the assessment, Nadada ordered further strengthening of the operation, with additional tactical teams and operational assets deployed to areas identified as possible hideouts or escape routes.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, said the operation was also being driven by intelligence gathering and tracking of the suspected kidnappers.
He added that the police were working with other security agencies in a coordinated effort to locate the victims and apprehend those behind the abduction.
Nadada, according to Iniedu, assured Nigerians that the police would not stop the operation until the abducted persons were rescued.
“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to securing the safe rescue of the 20 abducted persons and will sustain the operation until the mission is successfully concluded,” he said.
The DIG also appealed to residents and members of the public to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with credible information that could help locate the victims.
He assured informants that such information would be treated with strict confidentiality.
The police said further updates would be released as the search operation progresses.
