The Imo State Police Command has uncovered three decomposing unidentified 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’s Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, confirmed the discovery to the News Agency of Nigeria.
NAN reports that a viral video in the social media had shown about four decomposing bodies reportedly uncovered in the forest by Imo hunters and forest guards.
Okoye, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the Command’s Commissioner, CP Aboki Danjuma, had directed a tactical team to thoroughly search all the bushes and forests in the area to see if there were more kidnappers and dead bodies.
He told NAN in Owerri, the Imo State capital: “Operatives of Imo State Police Command Special Tactical Squad, led by the Commissioner of Police, Mr 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 further DNA confirmatory tests to ascertain the identities of the victims.”
According to Okoye, intense combing of the forest and other nook and crannies in the state is ongoing with the aim of stamping out all forms of crime and criminality.
He advised members of the public to avail police sensitive information that could aid them to arrest criminals, as well as secure and safeguard the state.
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The PPRO urged the public to either go to their closest Divisional Police Officer, Area Commanders or Commanders of Tactical Teams.
He also availed the following numbers: command room – 08034773600; and Complaints Response Unit – 07067419738, for emergencies.