The Imo State Police Command has paraded a group of criminal suspects linked to armed robbery, attempted murder, and vehicle snatching, announcing the recovery of a stolen vehicle, 450 suspected stolen motorcycles, and millions of naira in cash.

Addressing journalists during the press briefing and parade, the Police Public Relations Officer, speaking on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, said the breakthrough was achieved through a coordinated operation by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.

“The Imo State Police Command, under the strategic leadership of CP Audu Garba Bosso, has recorded another significant breakthrough in the course of investigation into a case of armed robbery, attempted murder, and vehicle snatching,” he stated.

According to him, the operation, led by ACP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, resulted in the arrest of five suspects and the recovery of a snatched shuttle bus alongside “four hundred and fifty motorcycles suspected to be stolen.”

He added that “a cash sum of Six Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand, Nine Hundred Naira (₦6,495,900), several vehicle plate numbers, and other incriminating exhibits, including criminal charms, were also recovered from the suspects’ hideout.”

The Command further disclosed that the suspects allegedly attempted to bribe the operatives with ₦5 million, an offer that was rejected.

“The suspects made an attempt to compromise the operatives with a cash inducement of Five Million Naira (₦5,000,000), which was firmly rejected in line with the Command’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption,” the police spokesperson said.

Narrating the incident, the police said the case was reported on April 6, 2026, following a distress call from one Chimeze Christian of Urata, Owerri North Local Government Area, who reported that his driver and vehicle had gone missing.

“The driver, Paul Ejike Ohaka, who left on April 5 with a shuttle bus, failed to return as scheduled. He was later found unconscious at Irete along the Onitsha Road axis, while the vehicle had been forcefully taken by unknown assailants,” the statement read.

Police operatives, acting on intelligence, traced the stolen vehicle to a workshop in Orlu, where it was about to be repainted to conceal its identity. Two suspects were arrested at the scene, while further investigations led to the arrest of three others.

The police said some of the suspects confessed to the crime, implicating a fleeing suspect identified as Osita Chigbo, also known as “Barr. Oguta.”

A search of the suspects’ premises led to the recovery of additional motorcycles, with follow-up operations yielding a total of 450 suspected stolen motorcycles.

“The suspects were unable to provide valid proof of ownership for the recovered motorcycles. Instead, they attempted to relocate them through bush paths to evade detection, but operatives intercepted the movement based on credible intelligence,” the police added.

“The Commissioner of Police has directed that all suspects be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the spokesperson said. (The Nation)

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