The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the search for 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members and other passengers abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.
The victims were reportedly abducted on Thursday, October 1, 2026, around Umunoha in Imo State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, CSP Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.
According to the statement, Nadada arrived in the state alongside two Commissioners of Police and carried out an on-the-spot assessment of the incident and the ongoing rescue operation.
He also reviewed the deployment of personnel and operational assets, assessed the strategies being used in the search and issued additional directives to strengthen the coordinated response.
The assessment was conducted with the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso; the Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations, CP Akpan Anifiok; the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force; other service commanders and members of the management team of the Imo State Police Command.
Iniedu said the police had intensified the search-and-rescue operation, deploying additional tactical teams and operational assets to areas identified as relevant to the search.
He added that intelligence-led tracking of the abductors was being carried out alongside coordinated efforts with other security agencies.
According to the police spokesman, Nadada assured members of the public that the force remained committed to rescuing the abducted persons safely.
“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 Nadada as saying.
Nadada also appealed to members of the public and the media to remain calm and vigilant, urging anyone with credible information that could aid the operation to contact the police or the nearest security formation.
“All information received will be treated with strict confidentiality,” he said.
The police said further updates would be provided as the search-and-rescue operation progresses.
