By Kevin Uzoma, Owerri
Officers at the Imo State Police Command have uncovered three decomposing corpses suspected to be kidnap victims at a forest in Ihiagwa and Avu communities in Owerri-West Local Government Area of the state.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, disclosed this in Owerri.
A viral video on social media had shown about four decomposing bodies reportedly uncovered in the forest by hunters and forest guard personnel.
Okoye said the state Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, had directed the tactical team to thoroughly search all the bushes and forests in the area to see if there were more victims or dead bodies.
He said: “Operatives of Imo State Police Command Special Tactical Squad, led by the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, raided a forest along Avu-Ihiagwa communities, suspected to be kidnappers’ hideout.
“In the process, five suspected kidnappers were arrested, while three decomposing unidentified corpses suspected to be kidnap victims were recovered.
“The command intends to carry out DNA confirmatory tests to ascertain the identities of the victims.”
He added that intense combing of the forest and other nooks and crannies of Imo State was on-going with the aim of stamping out all forms of crime and criminality.
He advised residents to avail the police sensitive information that could aid them in arresting criminals, as well as secure and safeguard the state.
Information can be made at the Divisional Police Office (DPO), the Area Command, or Command of the Tactical Teams.
