The Imo State Police Command said it has arrested five kidnap suspects after raiding their hideout in a forest between Avu and Ihiagwa communities.

The raid and subsequent arrest of the suspects were disclosed in a statement by the Imo State Police spokesperson, ASP Okoye Henry.

“Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Imo State Police Command Special Tactical Unit led by the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma in synergy with some local hunters stormed a suspected kidnapper’s hideout in a forest between Avu and Ihiagwa, on Monday, 29 January 2024 and arrested five suspected kidnappers,” Okoye said.

“They are namely; Muazu Awuta, 30 ‘m’ yrs, Abdullahi Abubakar, ‘m’ 32yrs, Ozeru Sabo ‘m’ 25yrs, Saddam Suleiman, ‘m’ 27yrs and Bashir Yahaya, ‘m’, 28yrs all of Jau LGA of Jigawa State.”

Okoye said the suspects are currently undergoing investigation and have provided useful information to the Police that will lead to the arrest of other syndicates at large.

He added that on combing the forest, two decomposing unidentified corpses suspected to be kidnapped victims and other items like telephones, wristwatches, shoes, and slippers were recovered.

The Imo State Police Command said it intends to carry out further DNA confirmatory tests to ascertain the identity of the deceased.

The Imo Police spokesperson added that five operational motorcycles of the suspected kidnappers were also recovered.

“Intense operation is still ongoing in the forest and other identified black spots with the aim of stamping out all forms of crime and criminality in Imo State,” Okoye said. (The Guardian)