The Police Command in Imo has uncovered three decomposing, unidentified corpses suspected to be kidnapping victims at a forest in Ihiagwa and Avu communities in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state.
The Imo State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, confirmed the discovery to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Monday in Owerri.
NAN reported that a viral video on social media showed about four decomposing bodies reportedly uncovered in the forest by Imo hunters and forest guards.
Okoye said Commissioner of Police 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.
“Operatives of the Imo State Police Command Special Tactical Squad, led by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Aboki Danjuma, raided a forest along the Avu-Ihiagwa communities, suspected to be kidnappers’ hideouts.
“In the process, five suspected kidnappers were arrested, while three decomposing unidentified corpses suspected to be kidnapping victims were recovered. The command intends to carry out further DNA confirmatory tests to ascertain the identities of the victims,” Okoye stated.
According to him, intense combing of the forest and other nooks and crannies of the state is ongoing to stamp out all forms of crime and criminality.
He advised members of the public to report to the police any sensitive information that could aid them in arresting criminals, as well as secure and safeguard the state.