BY EMMA PETER
Inspector-General of Police, IGP 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 operation following the abduction of prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.
The incident occurred on October 1, 2026, near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, where two buses conveying NYSC members and other passengers travelling from Ibadan to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Bende, Abia State, respectively, were attacked by suspected armed men.
The Imo State Police Command said 10 victims were rescued following the response of the police and other security agencies, while the two buses were recovered. The command also said efforts were ongoing to establish the exact number of persons still unaccounted for.
Following the development, the IGP directed DIG Nadada to proceed to Imo State alongside two Commissioners of Police to assess the situation and strengthen the ongoing search-and-rescue operation.
On arrival in the state, the DIG conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the incident and reviewed the search-and-rescue efforts being coordinated by the Imo State Police Command.
The assessment was carried out alongside the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Audu Garba Bosso; the Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations, CP Akpan Anifiok; 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.
DIG Nadada also reviewed the deployment of personnel, tactical teams and operational assets, while issuing further directives aimed at strengthening the coordinated response and improving efforts to locate and rescue the remaining victims.
The police have intensified the operation with additional tactical deployments across identified areas, supported by intelligence-led tracking aimed at locating the abductors and securing the safe release of the victims.
The Nigeria Police Force is also working in collaboration with sister security agencies as the search continues for the abducted persons and the suspects responsible for the attack.
DIG Nadada assured members of the public that the Police would sustain the operation until the remaining victims are safely recovered.
He called on members of the public to remain calm and vigilant, urging anyone with credible information that could assist the ongoing operation to promptly contact the police or the nearest security formation.
He assured the public that information supplied to the security agencies would be treated with strict confidentiality.
The Police said further updates would be provided as the search-and-rescue operation progresses.
