The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to oversee efforts to rescue 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped on Thursday, October 1, 2026, around the Umunoha area of Imo State, triggering a search-and-rescue operation by security agencies.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, disclosed the deployment in a statement issued on Friday.
According to Iniedu, Nadada arrived in Imo alongside two commissioners of police and assessed the incident scene and ongoing efforts to locate the victims.
The senior police officer also reviewed the operational strategies, deployment of personnel and available resources before issuing additional directives to strengthen the response.
The assessment involved the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, the Commissioner of Police for Federal Operations, CP Akpan Anifiok, the commissioner overseeing the Police Mobile Force, other service commanders and members of the state police command’s management team.
Iniedu said the police had intensified the operation, deploying additional tactical teams and resources to locations identified during the search.
He added that intelligence-led efforts were being used to track the suspected abductors, with security agencies coordinating their activities to improve the chances of rescuing those held captive.
Nadada assured the public that the police would sustain the operation until the abducted persons were 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 also appealed to residents and other members of the public to remain calm and vigilant while the search continues.
Anyone with credible information that could help security operatives locate the victims or identify the abductors was urged to contact the police or the nearest security formation.
The statement assured informants that information provided would be treated confidentially.
The police said further updates would be released as the operation progresses. As of the time of the statement, the force had not announced the rescue of the 20 victims.
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