Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu has deployed Deputy Inspector-General of Police Shehu Nadada to coordinate efforts to rescue 20 passengers abducted in Imo State.
The victims were among passengers travelling in two buses carrying National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers when they were attacked in Umunoha along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway on October 1.
The Imo State Police Command said it recovered the two buses and rescued 10 people at the scene of the incident.
In a statement on Friday, Force spokesperson Anietie Iniedu said Nadada had arrived in the state with two Commissioners of Police and carried out an on-the-spot assessment of the rescue operation.
According to Iniedu, the DIG reviewed the deployment of police personnel and operational resources before issuing directives to strengthen the coordinated response.
The assessment was conducted alongside Audu Bosso, Commissioner of Police in Imo State; Akpan Anifiok, Commissioner of Police in charge of Federal Operations; and other security commanders.
“The search-and-rescue operation has been further intensified, with additional deployments of tactical teams and operational assets across identified areas, backed by intelligence-led tracking of the suspects,” the statement reads.
“The police are working in close coordination with sister security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted persons and the apprehension of the perpetrators.”
The police assured the public that the operation would continue until all 20 abducted persons are rescued.