Imo Police Arrest 12 Suspects in Kidnapping Crackdown

On June 30, 2026, the Imo State Police Command conducted operations that led to the arrest of 12 suspected criminals and the rescue of three kidnapping victims. The operation, which targeted kidnapping, cultism, and violent crime, was led by Henri Okoy, the command's public relations officer.

The police recovered an AK-47 rifle, four locally made firearms, two vehicles, and three motorcycles. The suspects included Eric John, a 30-year-old welder from Delta State, and several others aged between 18 and 60.

The gang is alleged to have collected a ransom of N5 million and demanded an additional N50 million. Earlier, on June 21, five suspects linked to a cult group were arrested, and investigations revealed a connection to a murder case involving a 21-year-old student, Chinedu Christogonu, who was reportedly beaten to death.

The police reaffirmed their commitment to tackling violent crime in the state.