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

The victims were abducted on Thursday, Oct. 1, around Umunoha in Imo State, while travelling to their NYSC orientation camps.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.

He said Nadada arrived in the state with two Commissioners of Police and conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the incident and ongoing rescue efforts.

The DIG also reviewed the operational strategies, deployment of personnel and operational assets before issuing further directives to strengthen the coordinated response.

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

Iniedu said the search-and-rescue operation had been intensified, with additional tactical teams and operational assets deployed to identified areas.

He said intelligence-led tracking of the abductors was also being used, alongside coordinated efforts with other security agencies.

Nadada assured the public that the police remained committed to securing the safe release of the abducted persons and would sustain the operation until the mission was concluded.

He appealed to residents and the media to remain calm and vigilant, while urging anyone with credible information that could assist the operation to contact the police or the nearest security formation.

The police assured informants that all information provided would be treated with strict confidentiality.

The abduction has heightened concerns over the safety of prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps. A separate report said abductors had demanded N50 million for each of 19 graduates among the victims, amounting to N950 million.