The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate efforts to rescue 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.

The victims were reportedly kidnapped on Thursday, October 1, 2026, around the Umunoha area of Imo State.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, saying the deployment was aimed at strengthening the ongoing search-and-rescue operation.

Nadada, who arrived in the state with two Commissioners of Police, assessed the scene and reviewed the ongoing efforts to locate the victims, according to the statement.

He also evaluated the deployment of personnel, operational strategies and available resources before issuing additional directives to strengthen the coordinated response.

The assessment involved the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso; the Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations, CP Akpan Anifiok; the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force; other security commanders and members of the Imo State Police Command’s management team.

Iniedu said the police had deployed additional tactical teams and operational resources to locations identified as relevant to the search, while intelligence-led operations were being conducted to track the abductors.

The police are also working with other security agencies as part of the coordinated effort to secure the victims’ release.

“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to securing the safe rescue of the 20 abducted persons and will sustain the operation until the mission is successfully concluded,” Iniedu quoted Nadada as saying.

Nadada urged the public to remain calm and vigilant, and appealed for credible information that could assist the operation. He assured informants that all information provided would be treated confidentially, while the police said updates would be released as the operation progresses.