By Zagazola Makama
A daring kidnapping attempt was dramatically thwarted in Imo State after two women, Mrs. Constance Chinwe Araoyinvo and Mrs. Olamide Akigbe, were rescued in a high-stakes operation led by the police.
The victims were abducted on April 24, 2025, by gunmen suspected to be operatives of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). The attack occurred at Anara, in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, as the women were traveling to Umulolo Obo Village to purchase bread following a service of songs held in honour of their late father. They were traveling in a Honda vehicle when the assailants struck, seizing them at gunpoint.
However, the criminals’ plan was swiftly upended. Acting on a distress call, the vigilant Okigwe North Surveillance Team, under the directive of the Acting Commissioner of Police, launched an immediate rescue mission. At approximately 12:45 a.m. on April 25, 2025, the team intercepted the kidnappers along the Umuahia-Okigwe Expressway, rescuing the women unharmed and recovering their vehicle.
The rescued victims were safely reunited with their grieving family in Isiala Mbano, allowing preparations for the burial of their father to continue uninterrupted.
The Imo State Police Command has since intensified efforts to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding lives and property in the region.
Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, as operations continue to dismantle criminal networks threatening the peace and security of the state.
PIONEER NEWS 