The police in Imo State have smashed a suspected kidnapping syndicate and arrested an organ harvester suspect in the Douglas Road area of the state.
The police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, in a release late on Saturday, said, “During the operation, one suspect, Justine Emmanuel, a 38-year-old male from Amimo in Ikeduru LGA of Imo State, was arrested, and a 19-year-old young lady, whose name is withheld for privacy, was rescued, PUNCH reports.
“The arrest followed the swift response of vigilant operatives on visibility patrol, who observed the syndicate in a blue and white bus forcefully taking the young girl to an undisclosed location where they intended to kill her and harvest her organs. During the chase, the victim managed to jump from the bus and was immediately rescued.
“The police engaged in a hot pursuit, leading to the abandonment of the vehicle and the arrest of one suspect, while others escaped into the nearby bush.
“The command is conducting further investigations to identify additional members of the syndicate and assess the full extent of their criminal activities.”
The PPRO disclosed further that the successful rescue underscored the Imo State Police Command’s commitment to combating violent crime and ensuring community safety and urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
