IGP Deploys DIG, Tactical Teams To Imo After Abduction Of 20 NYSC Members
OWERRI, NIGERIA — The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has ordered the immediate deployment of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Shehu Umar Nadada, alongside two Commissioners of Police to Imo State.
Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, a Chief Supretendent of Police , CSP, in a statement said this high-level deployment follows the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha.
The victims were intercepted by gunmen on October 1, 2026, triggering an intensive security response across the region.
Upon his arrival in Imo State, DIG Nadada conducted an immediate on-the-spot assessment of the security situation and reviewed the existing strategies of the state command. The strategic meeting involved key security heads, including the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, and the Commissioner of Police for Federal Operations, CP Akpan Anifiok.
To bolster the search-and-rescue mission, the police command has intensified its operations by flooding the identified areas with additional tactical teams and specialized operational assets. Security forces are currently utilizing intelligence-led tracking and working in close coordination with sister security agencies to locate the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
DIG Nadada has assured the public of the Nigeria Police Force’s unwavering commitment to bringing the 20 abducted individuals back safely, stating that the operations will be sustained until the mission is fully achieved.
Meanwhile, the police have urged residents and the media to remain calm but vigilant, appealing to anyone with credible information regarding the incident to contact the nearest security formation. The authorities emphasized that all shared information will be treated with strict confidentiality.
