The Imo State Police Command has arrested two alleged 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.
This, the Command said, led to the arrest of seven more suspected kidnappers and the recovery of arms, ammunition, a human skull and criminal charms during a raid on a suspected kidnappers’ and terrorists’ hideout in the Egbema River creek.
The Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, made this disclosure while briefing journalists in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
He said the follow-up operation was carried out based on credible intelligence and confessional statements from suspects.
Bosso says the operation also resulted in the rescue of three kidnapped victims unharmed, while the victims identified some of the arrested suspects as members of the gang responsible for their abduction.
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Recovered from the camp were one AK-47 rifle, four AK-47 magazines, 16 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, three locally made cut-to-size guns, 16 live cartridges, one empty Beretta magazine, 20 rounds of GPMG ammunition, one human skull and assorted criminal charms.
The police commissioner disclosed that investigations further established that the syndicate was responsible for the killing of two employees of the Imo State Homeland Security at Umuguma in Owerri West Local Government Area on May 16, 2026, during an attempt to kidnap Mrs. Betty Dike.
He added that efforts were ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.
Bosso also disclosed that on July 7, operatives acting on credible intelligence raided the Obiakpu swamps in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, where they recovered an additional 346 rounds of live ammunition comprising 122 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 148 rounds of M16 rifle ammunition and 76 rounds of 9mm Beretta ammunition, as well as seven rifle magazines.
The commissioner further revealed that the command arrested 184 suspects for various offences in the last two months, including kidnapping, terrorism, armed robbery, cultism, murder, rape, defilement and vehicle snatching, while three kidnapped victims were rescued during the period.
He also announced the arrest of a 58-year-old man alleged to have sexually abused two 15-year-old girls.
The CP said that a 19-year-old man was arrested for allegedly defiling an eight-year-old girl.
Both cases, he said, would be taken to court after investigations.