IMO POLICE SMASH ROBBERY SYNDICATE, VICTIM RESCUE ALIVE,
RECOVER VEHICLE, 450 SUSPECTED STOLEN MOTORCYCLES
By Anselem Anokwute
The Imo State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing crackdown on criminal elements, arresting five suspected members of an armed robbery syndicate, rescuing a victim, and recovering a stolen vehicle, alongside 450 suspected stolen motorcycles, Mostly ladies’ models of various brands.
Briefing journalists, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, said the operation was carried out by operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
He explained that the operation followed a report received on April 6, 2026, from one Chimeze Christian of Urata in Owerri North Local Government Area, who raised the alarm over the disappearance of his driver, Paul Ejike Ohaka, who had left the previous day with a shuttle bus but failed to return.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the driver was later found unconscious and abandoned at Irete along the Onitsha Road axis, while the vehicle had been snatched by unknown assailants. He was subsequently taken to hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.
Acting on the report, police operatives traced and recovered the stolen vehicle at a workshop in Orlu, where it was being prepared for repainting to conceal its identity. Two suspects were arrested at the scene.
Further investigations led to the arrest of three additional suspects, while another member of the syndicate remains at large.
The police also disclosed that a total of 450 motorcycles suspected to be stolen were recovered during the operation, alongside a cash sum of ₦6,495,900, several vehicle number plates, and other incriminating items, including charms.
In a related development, the suspects allegedly attempted to bribe the operatives with ₦5 million, an offer that was rejected in line with the Command’s zero-tolerance policy on corruption.
Meanwhile, the rescued victim, Paul Ohaka, while narrating his ordeal, said he was accosted on Easter Monday by a passenger who engaged him in conversation and later requested his contact number under the pretext of hiring him for a trip.
Ohaka said the suspect subsequently called him to pick him up from a hotel in Owerri and promised him a business opportunity, claiming he needed a driver to convey a vehicle he had purchased.
He explained that from Amakohia, he drove the suspect to Irete in Owerri West Local Government Area, where the suspect asked him to stop midway. Shortly after, another individual joined them, introduced as the vehicle owner.
According to Ohaka, the second suspect brought out a white handkerchief, pressed it against his face, and he lost consciousness. He regained consciousness days later in the hospital.
It was gathered that the vehicle owner, after waiting several days without hearing from his driver, reported the matter to the police, leading to the swift tracking and recovery of the vehicle in Orlu.
Police sources said the quick intervention led to the arrest of suspects, including a car painter and his apprentice, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate.
The arrested suspects are said to be cooperating with investigators as efforts intensify to track down those still at large.
The Commissioner of Police further reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to intelligence-driven policing, stressing that criminal elements would find no safe haven in the state. He added that investigations are ongoing and assured that all suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion.
The Command further urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information