Police rescue kidnap victim during forest raid in Imo

The Imo State Police Command has rescued a kidnap victim, Chinonaobi Uchegbulam, during an intelligence-led operation targeting criminal hideouts in forests across Owerri West Local Government Area of the state.

The victim, who hails from Ubaha Orodo in Owerri West LGA, was rescued on Saturday from a forest hideout during a coordinated clearance operation carried out across the Nekede, Ihiagwa and Agbala axis.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Henry Okoye, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday.

According to Okoye, the operation was led by the Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, alongside police operatives and local vigilantes as part of efforts to rid the state of criminal elements.

He said, “As part of ongoing efforts to rid Imo State of criminal elements, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Audu Garba Bosso, psc(+), mnips, on 27th June, 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 LGA.

“The operation was carried out on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, conveyed through the Deputy Inspector-General of Police supervising the South East Geopolitical Zone, DIG Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, fdc, to strengthen internal security, dismantle criminal hideouts and deny criminal elements safe havens.

“During the operation, Police operatives successfully rescued an injured kidnapped victim, Chinonaobi Uchegbulam ‘m’ of Ubaha Orodo, from a forest hideout. The victim was immediately evacuated to a medical facility, where he is currently receiving treatment and responding positively.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, PSC(+), MNIPS, commended the operatives for their courage and professionalism. He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations and ensuring that Imo State remains unsafe for criminal elements.”

Okoye said the operation formed part of the command’s sustained offensive against violent crimes and criminal networks operating in forests and other remote locations across the state.

He added that the command had urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through its emergency line, 0803 477 3600.

The police spokesman also appealed to members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to strengthen the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.