Imo: Family Alleges Police Neglect as Gunmen Abduct Inspector on Official Duty

The family of a police inspector allegedly kidnapped while on official duty in Imo State has accused the state police command of failing to take meaningful steps towards securing his release.

Inspector Eku Egim Eku was reportedly abducted by armed men on Monday, May 25, 2026, while travelling to Orlu, where he had been assigned to provide security services at a financial institution. According to family members, the officer was officially drafted by his unit command to provide armed security escort and bank guard services at a financial institution in Orlu town—a geographic zone that has been heavily criminalized by violent separatist gunmen and rogue militia cells. The inspector was intercepted midway through his journey by the gunmen, disarmed, and dragged into the dense forests characteristically used by terrorists as operational bases in the state.

Speaking on the incident, a family member expressed frustration over what he described as the lack of response from the Imo State Police Command since the incident occurred. According to information gathered, the officer was deployed by his unit to undertake bank guard duties in Orlu, an area that has witnessed repeated security challenges in recent years. During the journey, he was allegedly intercepted by gunmen, disarmed and taken away.

“One inspector, EKU EGIM EKU, has been kidnapped by armed terrorists in Imo State,” the victim’s brother cried out. “The said inspector is my brother. He was kidnapped on Monday while on his way to Orlu in Imo State for a bank guard duty.”

The family further alleged that despite several appeals, they have received no assistance from the police authorities in the state. Speaking to SaharaReporters on Saturday, May 30, a direct sibling of the abducted officer exposed how the family’s frantic appeals for assistance from the state police command have been completely stonewalled. The distraught family members accused the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, of showing absolute “indifference” and refusing to deploy tactical search-and-rescue teams to track down the kidnappers.

“All efforts from us the family proved abortive as the command is totally not willing to offer any support,” the heartbroken sibling claimed on Saturday.

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The relative claimed that five days after the abduction, the family had yet to receive updates or assurances regarding efforts to locate and rescue the officer. The most damning aspect of the officer’s disappearance, according to the family, is the alleged refusal of the top brass of the Imo State Police Command to acknowledge the incident or initiate standard hostage-rescue protocols, leaving the family entirely at the mercy of non-state actors.

Attempts to obtain the reaction of the Imo State Police Command were unsuccessful. All efforts by SaharaReporters to speak with the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Henry Okoye, regarding the incident were completely unsuccessful. The command’s spokesperson did not answer multiple phone calls placed to his mobile line and failed to respond to a detailed text message seeking his comment on the development as of the time of filing this report.

Orlu and surrounding communities have experienced recurring security incidents in recent years, with security personnel among those targeted in attacks by armed groups operating in parts of the area. The Orlu senatorial district of Imo State has degenerated into a high-risk zone for uniform-wearing security personnel. Dozens of soldiers, police operatives, and civil defense corps members have been killed, decapitated, or vanished without a trace along this axis over the past few years.

This incident has again drawn attention to the security challenges facing the Orlu axis of Imo State, an area that has witnessed repeated attacks on security personnel and public institutions in recent years. Security observers have previously raised concerns about the safety measures available to officers deployed to high-risk locations, urging authorities to strengthen operational support and surveillance capabilities to reduce their exposure to attacks.

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Security analysts have repeatedly criticised the police hierarchy for failing to provide adequate armored transport or tactical air surveillance for personnel deployed to high-risk zones like Orlu, effectively leaving lower-ranking officers vulnerable to well-armed ambush squads. They have consistently warned about the dangers confronting officers deployed to volatile areas, urging authorities to improve operational support, intelligence gathering and protection measures for personnel working in high-risk zones.

The abduction of Inspector Eku comes amid a broader pattern of violent incidents targeting security personnel and civilians in Imo State. Just days earlier, on May 30, 2026, unidentified gunmen killed at least eight people, including security personnel, in Abacheke community, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of the state. The attackers reportedly stormed a checkpoint within the community and opened fire, causing residents to flee for their lives.

On May 13, 2026, gunmen also attempted an abduction along the Umuokwo Ihiagwa/Eziobodo Road in Owerri West LGA, an area that hosts the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO). That operation failed following a swift response by police operatives, local vigilante groups, and community members who mobilised in large numbers. In response to that incident, the Commissioner of Police for Imo State, CP Audu Garba Bosso, ordered the deployment of the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) , alongside other tactical and intelligence assets, to the affected area.

Despite these security challenges, the Imo State Police Command has recorded some successes in recent months. In March 2026, the command announced the arrest of 75 suspects linked to various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, and cultism, with recoveries including three AK-47 rifles, three magazines, 65 rounds of live ammunition, two locally made pistols, one Beretta pistol, and six stolen motorcycles. In February 2026, the command arrested 15 suspects over alleged offences ranging from kidnapping, murder, and armed robbery to cultism, child trafficking, and terrorism-related activities linked to IPOB/ESN, recovering 10 firearms including four AK-47 rifles and 260 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, in March 2026, police operatives neutralized a suspected terrorist and recovered arms following an attack on Adapalm in Ohaji/Egbema local government area.

However, critics argue that these tactical successes have not translated into sustained security for officers on routine assignments like bank guard duties. The abduction of Inspector Eku highlights the persistent vulnerability of police personnel operating in high-risk areas of the state.

Security experts have also raised concerns about the lack of official acknowledgment of the incident by the police command. The family’s allegation that the Commissioner of Police has shown “indifference” to their pleas suggests a breakdown in communication between the command and the families of officers serving in dangerous postings.

As of the time of this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction of Inspector Eku Egim Eku, and his whereabouts remain unknown. The Imo State Police Command has not issued any official statement on the incident. The family continues to appeal to the authorities for urgent intervention to secure the officer’s release.

Imo: Family Alleges Police Neglect as Gunmen Abduct Inspector on Official Duty

Gunmen Kill Eight, Burn Six Houses in Imo Community Attack

OWERRI — A wave of terror swept through a community in Imo State on Saturday, May 30, 2026, as unidentified gunmen stormed a local security checkpoint, killing no fewer than eight people and setting six houses ablaze, according to multiple community sources. The attack, which witnesses described as “like a war,” has thrown the affected community into serious tension and fear, with many residents fleeing their homes for fear of a second strike.

A community source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns, told journalists that the assailants arrived at the checkpoint and immediately opened fire. “They killed about eight people, including a security man. The attack was targeted at a checkpoint. It was like a war. They shot for some time and set about six houses ablaze,” the source said. The gunmen reportedly operated for an extended period before retreating, leaving behind multiple casualties and burning structures. Witnesses said the attackers showed no regard for residents, firing indiscriminately before setting nearby homes on fire.

In the aftermath of the raid, panic has gripped the community, with residents fearing that the attackers may return, especially as security presence in the area remains thin. “There is serious tension and fear in the community. Some residents have fled the area for fear of another attack,” the source added. Local businesses remained shut on Sunday morning, and vehicular movement was significantly reduced as families sought refuge in neighboring towns.

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As of the time of filing this report, it remained unclear whether the attack was linked to the sit-at-home order declared by pro-Biafra groups to mark Biafra Day (May 30), or if the gunmen were executing a different mission. Biafra Day is observed annually by separatist groups, including the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), often accompanied by restrictions on movement. A separate report confirmed that the IPOB-led sit-at-home order heavily disrupted commercial activities across Imo State on May 29, despite a heavy deployment of security personnel at major junctions. However, authorities have not confirmed any connection between the observed sit-at-home and the Saturday attack.

Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the Imo State Police Command were unsuccessful as of Sunday morning. The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, had yet to comment on the incident or release a statement regarding casualties, arrests, or investigations. This lack of official communication has fueled anxiety among residents, who are calling for increased security patrols and a swift investigation into the killings.

The attack comes just days after the Imo State Police Command announced a major security breakthrough. On May 27, 2026, police authorities revealed the arrest of 179 criminal suspects, including individuals linked to terrorism-related offenses connected to IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). The operation, led by Commissioner of Police Audu Garba Bosso, targeted violent crimes across the state. Despite this crackdown, Saturday’s attack underscores the persistent security challenges facing rural communities in Imo State.

As of Sunday morning, no group had claimed responsibility for the attack. Security analysts warn that without a rapid official response, the attackers may strike again, and displaced residents may be reluctant to return home. The Imo State Government has not yet issued a statement on the incident.

Gunmen Kill Eight, Burn Six Houses in Imo Community Attack

Ogun Police Gun Down 2 Suspected Kidnappers

Abeokuta, Ogun State – In a pre-dawn operation that has dismantled a major criminal network, police operatives in Ogun State have killed two suspected kidnappers and arrested a prominent Fulani community leader, Seriki Mohammed Abdullahi, over alleged ties to a kidnapping syndicate terrorizing the Ijebu-Ode/Ibadan road corridor.

The Ogun State Police Command, through its spokesperson Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed that the operation also led to the arrest of Mohammed Bello, a suspected gang member, alongside the recovery of N1.5 million believed to be ransom proceeds, an AK-47 rifle loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition, a single-barrel gun, several mobile phones, and a black bag allegedly used for ransom transactions.

According to police sources, the operation stemmed from the kidnapping of three persons on May 11, 2026, in the Ipojo area of Iperin, Atan-Ijebu. The victims were released unharmed three days later after an unspecified ransom was paid.

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Acting on intelligence gathered after the victims’ release, operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit led by SP Bamidele Shittu stormed a suspected kidnappers’ camp along the Ijebu-Ode/Ibadan Road axis at about 5:00 a.m. on May 15, 2026. On sighting the police operatives, the suspects opened fire, leading to a fierce gun duel. The operatives responded professionally, resulting in the neutralisation of two of the suspected kidnappers, while other gang members escaped into the forest with bullet injuries.

In a dramatic follow-up operation, police arrested Seriki Mohammed Abdullahi, the Seriki Fulani of Ijebu Ode, who is also the father of one of the fleeing suspects. Sources told journalists that the investigation initially targeted Bala, Abdullahi’s son, who had reportedly just been released from prison after serving a five-year sentence for kidnapping. Police sources further revealed that the black bag used for ransom delivery was allegedly recovered inside the kitchen of the Seriki’s residence, linking the community leader directly to the criminal network.

Among the items recovered from the gang are N1.5 million suspected to be ransom cash, one AK-47 rifle loaded with 10 rounds of live ammunition, one single-barrel gun, several mobile phones, and one black bag used for ransom transactions.

The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, praised the operatives for their gallantry, professionalism and resilience, reaffirming the command’s resolve to combat kidnapping, armed robbery, and other violent crimes across the state. The bodies of the two slain suspects have been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy, while efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest other fleeing gang members, including Bala. Investigations are continuing to uncover the full network of the syndicate, and the police have assured that all those arrested will face prosecution.

Ogun Police Gun Down 2 Suspected Kidnappers