The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Umar Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the search for prospective National Youth Service Corps members and other passengers abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.
The victims were abducted on Thursday, October 1, near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in the South-East and South-South.
Police had earlier confirmed that 10 victims were rescued after gunmen attacked two buses carrying the passengers. The command, however, said the exact number of people abducted was still being verified.
In a statement, Force Public Relations Officer CSP Anietie Iniedu said Nadada arrived in Imo with two Commissioners of Police and conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the ongoing rescue operation.
He was joined by the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso; the Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations, Akpan Anifiok; the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force; and other security commanders.
Iniedu said additional tactical teams and operational assets had been deployed to identified areas, while intelligence-led efforts were being used to track the suspected abductors.
Nadada assured the public that the police would sustain the operation until the abducted persons were rescued. He also urged anyone with credible information to contact the police or the nearest security formation, assuring them that such information would be treated confidentially.
The attack occurred at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday when two buses travelling from Ibadan to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and Bende, Abia State, were intercepted by suspected armed men.
