The Imo State Police Command says it has arrested 147 suspects linked to a range of serious crimes, including kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, and human trafficking, in operations carried out over the past two months across the state.
Speaking during a press briefing in Owerri on Sunday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, said the arrests followed coordinated and intelligence-led operations aimed at improving public safety. He noted that the arrests were made under the direction of the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma.
“Over the past two months, the Imo State Police Command has intensified its efforts in enhancing the peace and security of Imo State through a series of well-coordinated operations across the state. These efforts, executed under the strategic leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, have resulted in significant successes in combating crime,” Okoye said.
He disclosed that five armed suspects were killed during gun battles with police operatives, and seven kidnapped victims were rescued. Weapons and items recovered during the operations included seven AK-47 rifles, three AK-47 magazines, seven pump-action guns, seven locally fabricated long guns, 178 live cartridges, three motorcycles, various denominations of Biafra currency, four Biafra flags, and several criminal charms.
Okoye said the suspects were arrested for a range of offences including armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, rape, stealing, receiving stolen property, child trafficking, and terrorism.
A major arrest was made on May 20, 2025, in Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area, where police operatives apprehended a 37-year-old native doctor, Ozioma Ihedoro, who had been on the Command’s wanted list.
Okoye said, “He admitted to being the spiritual adviser to an IPOB/ESN commander known as ‘B44.’ A search of his shrine recovered an AK-47 rifle, three magazines, and seven live rounds. He is cooperating with investigators, providing intelligence to dismantle other syndicates at large.”
In another operation on May 19, 2025, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, working with the Njaba Division, arrested three armed robbery suspects—Chinonso Anayo (also known as Pablo, aged 24), Emmanuel John (21), and Ifeanyi John (20), all from Isiagu, Ebonyi State. Okoye said they were arrested during a surveillance operation and confessed to being involved in multiple robberies. Items recovered from them included one Q-Link motorcycle, two pump-action guns, and fifteen live cartridges.
Commending the efforts of police operatives, CP Aboki Danjuma reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property in collaboration with other security agencies. He said security measures had been enhanced across Imo State to tackle kidnapping and violent crime, and urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
