The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Shehu Umar Nadada, to Imo State to provide operational direction for the ongoing search-and-rescue mission of the prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road, Umunoha, on Thursday.

In a statement on Friday, the force spokesperson Anietie Iniedu, said the DIG arrived the state with two commissioners of police and conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

According to the statement, Mr Nadada also reviewed the operational strategies, deployment of officers as well as operational assets, and provided further directives to strengthen the coordinated response.

“The assessment was conducted alongside the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Audu Garba Bosso, psc(+), mnips; the Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations, CP Akpan Anifiok, psc, mnips; the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force; as well as other service commanders and members of the management team of the Imo State Police Command,” the statement read.

Noting that the search-and-rescue operation had been further intensified, with additional deployments of tactical teams and operational assets across identified areas, backed by intelligence-led tracking of the suspects, Mr Iniedu said that the police were working in close coordination with sister security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted persons and the apprehension of the perpetrators.

Mr Nadada reaffirmed the police commitment to securing the safe rescue of the 20 abducted persons and sustaining the operation until the mission was successfully concluded.

He urged members of the public and the media to remain calm and vigilant and encouraged anyone with credible information that could assist the operation to promptly contact the police or the nearest security formation. 

“All information received will be treated with strict confidentiality. Further updates will be issued as the operation progresses,” the statement added.

The Peoples Gazette earlier reported that some prospective corps members and other passengers were abducted along the Imo-Abia Road on Thursday.