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

Some Nigerian policemen

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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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.