Imo: Police arrest 789 suspects, recover 17 firearms in two months
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, has said that the State Police Command, in synergy with sister security agencies, has recorded remarkable achievements within two months of consistent operations against criminal elements across the state.
The CP stated that during the period, security operatives arrested a total of 789 criminal suspects for various offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, and cultism to other crimes including child trafficking, murder, theft, and receiving stolen property.
CP Danjuma gave the details at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command in Owerri while addressing journalists on the achievements recorded within two months.
He asserted that within the period under review, the Command rescued nine kidnapped victims and seven stolen children, many of whom have since been reunited with their families.
CP Danjuma further revealed that the operations also led to the recovery of 17 firearms, including AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, and locally fabricated weapons.
Other recoveries included 72 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 673 live cartridges, nine stolen motorcycles, several Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 14 laptops, numerous mobile phones, a large quantity of hard drugs, and counterfeit currency.
“One of the key breakthroughs was the arrest of notorious IPOB/ESN terrorists found with arms, ammunition, incriminating materials, and financial records. Investigations also led to the apprehension of some of their sponsors and financiers, drastically reducing their nefarious activities and cutting off vital funding channels.
“In joint operations with sister agencies, terrorist camps in Okigwe, Mbaitoli, and Njaba LGAs were dismantled, further crippling their capacity to launch attacks. Following the ongoing Joint Security Operations in Njaba and Mbaitoli LGAs targeting IPOB/ESN hideouts, some fleeing terrorists relocated to Agwa,” he said.
He hinted that, acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, led by ACP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, and the Special Intervention Squad, led by CSP Gboyako Shaba Adamu, in synergy with other security agencies, stormed a camp at Obudi Agwa in Oguta LGA suspected to be an IPOB hideout.
The CP narrated that on sighting the operatives, the suspects engaged them in a fierce gun battle but were overpowered, leading to the arrest of 16 suspects, including their sub-commanders, Uzoechi Okechukwu and Paschal Igbuogwu.
CP Danjuma disclosed that two AK-47 rifles, two pump-action guns, and 375 rounds of ammunition were also recovered.
“Similarly, on September 9, 2025, a notorious terrorist kingpin, Onye Chukwuebuka Eriiriogu, was arrested at Ogbaku in Mbaitoli LGA. During interrogation, he confessed to multiple violent attacks carried out in collaboration with his gang.
“In addition to counter-terrorism operations, the Command’s Anti-Vice Unit uncovered and dismantled a child trafficking syndicate. A one-month-old baby, who had been deceitfully declared dead at birth, was rescued and safely reunited with the mother, Precious Ochasi of Ohuba, Ohaji,” he further said.
On the rescued child, the CP explained that investigations revealed that the partner of the child’s mother, a self-acclaimed pastor, conspired with a nurse identified as Blessing and a trafficking agent named Chioma to sell the baby for N900,000.
He narrated that four suspects linked to the crime were arrested, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing accomplices.
In a similar development, the Command arrested four suspected cultists during an intelligence-led raid on their hideout in Amaraku, Isiala Mbano LGA. The raid led to the recovery of locally fabricated pistols and live cartridges.
CP Aboki added that the suspects confessed to being members of the Vikings Confraternity and that investigations are ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the cult group.
He also used the occasion to commend both the State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, for their support for the welfare of the officers of the Command, which, he said, has boosted their operational capacity.
Imo: Police arrest 789 suspects, recover 17 firearms in two months
