147 Imo kidnap, murder suspects in police net

The Imo State Police Command has arrested 147 suspects for crimes ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, rape, stealing, receiving stolen property, child trafficking, and terrorism.

The police spokesperson for the state command, Henry Okoye, made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday.

This is even as he announced a breakthrough that operatives in Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area, on May 20, arrested Ozioma Ihedoro, a 37-year-old native doctor, on the state’s wanted list, who admitted to being the spiritual adviser to an IPOB/ESN commander known as “B44.”

Okoye said on May 19, the Anti-Kidnapping squad, in synergy with operatives of the Njaba Police Division, arrested three armed robbery suspects —Chinonso Anayo (aka Pablo, 24), Emmanuel John (21), and Ifeanyi John (20), all from Isiagu, in Ebonyi State.  They were apprehended, he revealed, during a surveillance operation and confessed to multiple robberies, while the police recovered one Q-Link motorcycle, two pump action guns, and 15 live cartridges.

He said, “Following thorough investigations and intelligence-led operations, 147 suspects were arrested for crimes including armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, rape, stealing, receiving stolen property, child trafficking, and terrorism. Recovered from these suspects were seven AK-47 rifles, three AK-47 magazines, seven pump action guns, seven locally fabricated long guns, 178 live cartridges, three motorcycles, various denominations of Biafra currency, four Biafra flags, and several criminal charms.

“In the course of the operations, five armed suspects were neutralized during fierce gun battles with police operatives, and seven kidnapped victims were successfully rescued. 

A breakthrough occurred on May 20, 2025, around 1600hrs in Umuaka, Njaba LGA, when anti-kidnapping operatives arrested Ozioma Ihedoro, a 37-year-old native doctor, on the command’s wanted list. He admitted to being the spiritual adviser to an IPOB/ESN commander known as “B44.” A search of his shrine recovered an AK-47 rifle, three magazines, and seven live rounds. He is cooperating with investigators, providing intelligence to dismantle other syndicate members at large

In a related development, on May 19, 2025, the anti-kidnapping squad, in synergy with operatives of Njaba Division, arrested three armed robbery suspects—Chinonso Anayo (aka Pablo, 24), Emmanuel John (21), and Ifeanyi John (20), all from Isiagu, Ebonyi State. They were apprehended during a surveillance operation and confessed to multiple robberies. Police recovered one Q-Link motorcycle, two pump action guns, and fifteen live cartridges”, Okoye said.

Some of the items recovered from the suspects include “seven AK-47 rifles, three AK-47 magazines, seven pump action guns, seven locally fabricated long guns, 178 live cartridges, three motorcycles, various denominations of Biafra currency, four Biafra flags, and several criminal charms”.

Further, he said, “Over the past two months, the Imo State Police Command has intensified its efforts in enhancing the peace and security of the state through a series of well-coordinated operations across the state. These efforts, executed under the strategic leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, have resulted in significant successes in combating crime..

Okoye said policing had been intensified to eliminate violent crimes saying “security measures have been strengthened across the state to eliminate kidnapping and violent crimes and urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or the emergency line: 0803 477 3600.”Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, has commended operatives for their resilience even as he reiterated the command’s commitment, alongside other security agencies, to safeguard lives and property.