Operatives of Imo State Police Command on Monday raided a suspected hideout of kidnappers, situated at Okohia Forest in Owerri West council area of the state.
The police during the raid arrested seven suspected members of the kidnappers gang as well as recovered four decomposing corpses, suspected to be that of their victims.
Other items recovered that are suspected to belong to their victims included telephones, wristwatches, shoes, and slippers among other personal belongings.
The Operatives led by the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma launched the attack on the forest in conjunction with the Association of Nigeria Hunters Association and Imo State Vigilante Services.
Speaking to newsmen during the raid, CP Danjuma reiterated his commitment to rid the state of criminally minded elements and their nefarious activities in the state.
According to him, the Command under his watch would will continue the raid across all suspected criminal hideouts in the state, until the men of the underworld are completely wiped out from the state.
The CP also reassured residents of the area and Imo citizens at large of their safety, stressing that the command would never relent in its commitment to guarantee adequate security in the state.
He said, “there was an information that men of the underworld, that is the hoodlums kidnap from the town, bring their victims to this forest, demand for ransom, either paid or not paid, they kill them.
“Just this morning, we have recovered about four unidentified corpses as well as other items.”
“We are going to dominate our operations in this forest and by his grace, all the hoodlums, all the kidnappers will be cleared.
“As you have seen, we have arrested about seven persons this morning and the are going to face the full wrath of the law.”
Meanwhile, some of the community chieftains and residents of Ihiagwa, Nekede and Obinze, that share links to the forest, who spoke on basis of anonymity applauded the CP for his ingenuity and diligence to duty.
They promised to continually support and collaborate efforts of the police and the other sister security agencies in the state in tackling security issues in their area and the state in general.
