Imo Police comb forests with drones, rescue kidnapped victim

By Chidi Nkwopara
Imo State Police Command, over the weekend, deployed surveillance drones, combed forests and rescued a kidnap victim in the state.
Confirming this in a press statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Henry Okoye, said: “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”.
Part of the statement read: “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.
“The operation was carried out on the directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, as conveyed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, supervising the South East Geopolitical Zone, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie.
“The operation was aimed at strengthening internal security, dismantling criminal hideouts and denying 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 reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations and ensuring that Imo State remains unsafe for criminal elements.”
The Command not only urged Imolites to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest Police Station, but also called for”continued public support through timely and credible information, to strengthen the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes”.