Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have dismantled a notorious kidnapping and organ harvesting syndicate, following a dramatic operation in the Douglas Road area.
The PUNCH reported that spokesperson for the State Police Command, Henry Okoye, in a late-Saturday statement, confirmed the arrest of one suspect, 38-year-old Justine Emmanuel, from Amimo in Ikeduru Local Government Area.
Additionally, a 19-year-old female victim was successfully rescued. Her identity remains undisclosed for privacy reasons.
Okoye said, “During the operation, one suspect, Justine Emmanuel, a 38-year-old male from Amimo in Ikeduru LGA of Imo State, was arrested, and a 19-year-old young lady, whose name is withheld for privacy, was rescued.”
The arrest came after a swift intervention by police officers on patrol who spotted a blue-and-white bus where the young woman was being forcibly taken by the syndicate.
The criminals intended to transport her to an undisclosed location where they planned to kill her and harvest her organs.
In a courageous move during the pursuit, the victim managed to leap from the moving vehicle, which facilitated her immediate rescue.
“The arrest followed the swift response of vigilant operatives on visibility patrol, who observed the syndicate in a blue and white bus forcefully taking the young girl to an undisclosed location where they intended to kill her and harvest her organs. During the chase, the victim managed to jump from the bus and was immediately rescued,” Okoye recounted.
The police pursued the suspects, forcing them to abandon the bus, though several members of the gang escaped into the surrounding bush. Emmanuel was apprehended, while the hunt for the remaining suspects is ongoing.
“The police engaged in a hot pursuit, leading to the abandonment of the vehicle and the arrest of one suspect, while others escaped into the nearby bush,” Okoye explained, adding that the authorities are actively investigating to unearth further details about the syndicate’s operations.
This incident underscores the Imo State Police Command’s resolve to curb violent crimes and ensure public safety.
Okoye emphasized the importance of community vigilance, urging residents to report any suspicious behavior to the authorities, adding, “The command is conducting further investigations to identify additional members of the syndicate and assess the full extent of their criminal activities.”
The swift rescue of the young woman highlights the effectiveness of the police’s visibility patrols and their dedication to safeguarding the community from such heinous crimes.
