By Ade Oyeyemi
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate efforts to rescue 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members and other passengers abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped on Thursday, October 1, around the Umunoha axis of the road in Imo State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, CSP Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.
Iniedu said Nadada arrived in the state with two Commissioners of Police and immediately reviewed the situation at the scene as well as the ongoing efforts to locate the abducted passengers.
The DIG also assessed the operational strategies, personnel deployment and available resources before issuing fresh directives aimed at strengthening the coordinated search-and-rescue operation.
He carried out the assessment alongside the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso; the Commissioner of Police in charge of Federal Operations, CP Akpan Anifiok; the Commissioner of Police overseeing the Police Mobile Force and other security commanders.
According to the statement, the police have intensified the search by deploying additional tactical teams and operational assets to locations identified as relevant to the operation.
Iniedu said the effort was being driven by intelligence gathering and tracking operations, with the police working alongside other security agencies to locate the abductors and secure the release of the victims.
Nadada assured Nigerians that the police would sustain the operation until the abducted persons were safely 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,” Iniedu quoted the DIG as saying.
The police boss appealed to residents and members of the public to remain calm and vigilant while urging anyone with useful information about the victims or their abductors to contact the police or the nearest security formation.
He assured members of the public that information provided to the authorities would be treated confidentially.
The police said updates on the rescue operation would be released as developments occur.
