Police Recover 450 Motorbikes, Smash Armed Robbery Syndicate In Imo

Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping unit of the Imo State Police Command have smashed an armed robbery syndicate that specialised in the robbery of motorcycles and shuttle buses.

Police spokesperson for Imo State Command, Henry Okoye, made the disclosure on Sunday evening while addressing newsmen in Owerri.

Okoye disclosed that the suspects tried to evade arrest by offering Police operatives a bribe of N5million which was rejected.

He said one Chimeze Christian of Urata, Owerri North LGA, owner of Wonder Shuttle, had on April 6th reported that his driver, Paul Ejike Ohaka, who left on 5th April 2026 with a bus bearing registration number KPU 26 XA, failed to return as scheduled.

During a search, the driver was found abandoned and unconscious at Irete along the Onitsha Road axis, while the vehicle had been forcefully taken by unknown assailants. He is currently receiving treatment at Vadan Hospital, New Owerri.

However, during a coordinated investigation, Police operatives discovered and recovered the vehicle at a workshop in Orlu, where it was about to be repainted to conceal its identity.

Two suspects, Olagoke Jelili and Godday Ezike, were arrested at the scene.

Okoye said further investigation led to the arrest of Okechukwu Prince and Raymond Odinaka, who confessed to acting on the instructions of a fleeing suspect, Osita Chigbo, alias “Barr. Oguta”, while the alleged receiver of the robbed vehicles, Paul Martins Anya, has also been arrested.

He said a search of the premises led to the recovery of thirteen (13) motorcycles suspected to be stolen, while follow-up operations resulted in additional recoveries, bringing the total to four hundred and fifty (450) suspected stolen motorcycles and other exhibits.

He said, “The operation, conducted by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and led by ACP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, resulted in the arrest of five (5) suspects. The operatives also recovered one snatched shuttle bus and four hundred and fifty (450) motorcycles suspected to be stolen. Additionally, a cash sum of Six Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand, Nine Hundred Naira (₦6,495,900), several vehicle plate numbers, and other incriminating exhibits, including criminal charms, were recovered from the suspects’ hideout.

“It is further noted that the suspects allegedly made an attempt to compromise the operatives with a cash inducement of Five Million Naira (₦5,000,000), which was firmly rejected in line with the Command’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption and commitment to professional policing”, he said.

According to him, the timely response of the Police prevented the suspects from moving the motorcycles to another location.

Okoye said the operation reflected the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and its resolve to ensure that criminal elements have no safe haven within Imo State.

Further, he said the Imo Police boss, Audu Garba Bosso, has directed that all suspects be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, the command has expressed gratitude to the Imo populace for their continued cooperation and encourages sustained support through timely and credible information sharing.