Imo motorists attack: Police launch manhunt after gunmen killed a driver and abducted passengers in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area

The Imo State Police Command has launched a manhunt for gunmen who killed a driver and abducted several motorists in the Amala area of Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area, police spokesperson Henry Okoye confirmed on Monday.

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Okoye said the attack occurred at approximately 5:50 p.m. on December 7 when armed men allegedly emerged from a bush path and opened fire on a Toyota Highlander with registration number SMK 514 BD, killing the driver on the spot.

The assailants subsequently abducted the occupants of a Lexus RS300 marked FSD 334 XA.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, immediately launched an intensive operation in collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilante groups to apprehend the suspects and rescue the kidnapped victims.

Police operatives began bush-combing and search-and-rescue operations around the Amala forest axis and neighbouring communities, with preliminary investigations reportedly yielding promising leads.

Okoye added that officers from the Ngor-Okpala Division secured the area and evacuated the injured driver to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

Residents have been urged to remain calm and provide any relevant information to the nearest police station or via the dedicated hotline at 0803 477 3600.

The incident heightens public concern over recurring abductions along routes connecting remote villages to major towns in Imo State.

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Last week, the command dismissed reports of a bus kidnapping along Aba Road, Owerri, emphasising the need for verified information amid rising security anxieties.