Police Arrest 29 Suspected Kidnappers In Imo, Recover 14 Guns

Twenty-nine suspects have been paraded by the Imo State Police Command over their alleged involvement in kidnapping within the state.

The police also recovered AK-47 rifles and other dangerous items from them.

Among those paraded were four female suspects.

A press statement issued by the command’s public relations officer, ASP Henry Okoye, informed that the operation that led to the arrest of the suspects was carried out by the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit on October 19, 2024, dislodging the camp said to belong to the suspects in Nempi, Oru West Local Government Area of the state, leading to the arrest of 29 suspects—25 males and four females.

He stated that the operation was initiated following the apprehension of a 25-year-old male suspect, Anukuru Nnana Emmanuel, at Mgbidi in Oru East Local Government Area of the state.

The police spokesperson hinted that information obtained from the suspect during cross-examination enabled police operatives to locate and dismantle the camp.

ASP Okoye further hinted that during the operation several dangerous items were recovered from the suspects, including 4 pump-action guns, two locally-made revolvers, five locally-made pistols, three AK-47 magazines, a Point of Sale (POS) machine, and 20 rounds of live cartridges. Also recovered were one white SUV and local bulletproof charms said to have been used by the suspects.

He added that over N200,000, allegedly extorted from kidnapping victims, was also recovered from them.

“Investigation is ongoing; efforts are in progress to apprehend the manufacturers of the locally made guns. The destruction of this camp is part of the command’s ongoing efforts to combat violent crimes and restore peace within the state,” he stated.