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Imo Police use drones, comb forests to rescue kidnapped victim
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Imo Police use drones, comb forests to rescue kidnapped victim

From Vanguard · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Imo State Police deployed surveillance drones and combed forests to rescue a kidnapped victim.
  • The operation, directed by the Inspector General of Police, targeted criminal hideouts in Owerri West and Owerri North.
  • Police rescued an injured victim and are committed to sustaining operations against criminal elements in the state.

Imo State Police have intensified efforts to combat crime, successfully rescuing a kidnapped victim through a coordinated operation involving surveillance drones and forest clearance. The operation, which took place over the weekend, saw police operatives, in collaboration with local vigilantes, comb forests across the Nekede, Ihiagwa, and Agbala areas of Owerri West and Owerri North local government areas.

The Command has deployed a surveillance drone to strengthen intelligence gathering and support ongoing operations aimed at identifying and tracking criminal elements across Imo State

— Mr. Henry OkoyeThe Police Public Relations Officer confirming the deployment of surveillance drones.

The Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, led the intelligence-led operation, which was executed on the directives of the Inspector General of Police. The goal was to dismantle criminal hideouts and deny criminals safe havens within the state.

As part of ongoing efforts to rid Imo State of criminal elements, the Commissioner of Police, CP, Imo State Command, Audu Garba Bosso, June 27, 2026, led operatives of the Command, in collaboration with local vigilantes, on an intelligence-led forest clearance operation across the Nekede, Ihiagwa and Agbala axis of Owerri West and Owerri North local government areas.

— Mr. Henry OkoyeDetailing the forest clearance operation.

During the operation, police operatives located and rescued an injured kidnapped victim, identified as Chinonaobi Uchegbulam from Ubaha Orodo. The victim was immediately taken to a medical facility for treatment and is reportedly responding well. The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Henry Okoye, confirmed the deployment of surveillance drones to enhance intelligence gathering and support ongoing operations.

The operation was aimed at strengthening internal security, dismantling criminal hideouts and denying criminal elements safe havens.

— Mr. Henry OkoyeExplaining the objective of the operation.

The Commissioner of Police reaffirmed the command's dedication to maintaining intelligence-led operations to ensure Imo State remains inhospitable to criminals. He urged residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities, and continue providing timely and credible information to aid the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes.

The victim was immediately evacuated to a medical facility, where he is currently receiving treatment and responding positively.

— Mr. Henry OkoyeDescribing the condition and treatment of the rescued victim.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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