Five members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate, Umaru Usman, 40, Tukur Yau, 25, Musbau Sabo, 18, Abdul Ibrahim, 30, and Jubrin Idris, 35, have been arrested by the Imo State Police Command for terrorising the state.

During the operation, the police also rescued a 26-year-old woman.

The spokesperson of the command, ASP Henry Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, August 22, 2024, said the victim was kidnapped from her residence in Obinze, Owerri West LGA last Sunday.

In response to the report of the kidnapping, the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, promptly deployed the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit with all available operational resources and intelligence to apprehend the suspects and ensure the safe rescue of the victim.

“Following the CP’s directives and directives and collection of actionable intelligence, the operatives targeted a forest hideout in Avu, where the suspects were located,”

“The suspects were found in possession of one pump-action gun, five cartridges, two daggers, a cutlass, and various criminal charms.”

ASP Okoye said interrogation revealed that the suspects were members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate responsible for terrorising residents in Obinze, Avu, and surrounding areas while investigations aimed at apprehending the remaining members of the gang and ensuring they face the full extent of the law were ongoing.