Police in Imo State have rescued a 19-year old lady who was kidnapped by members of an organ harvesting syndicate.
The Imo State Police Command also arrested one of the kidnappers. The incident took place in the Douglass area of the state.
According to the spokesperson of the command, ASP Henry Okoye, 38-year-old suspected kidnapper, Justine Emmanuel, who hailed from Amimo in Ikeduru Local Government Area, was arrested as a member of a syndicate specialized in harvesting the organ of their victims, adding that in the process of arresting the suspect, the 19-year-old whose organ the syndicate were planning to harvest was rescued.
He said the syndicate were arrested while moving in a blue and white bus on their way to kill the victim and harvest her organs.
He further said upon siting the police, the kidnappers increased their speed but were given a hot chase by the police prompting them to abandon their vehicle and flee. However, one of the suspects was not lucky as he was arrested before he could escape.
“The arrest followed the swift response of vigilant operatives 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,” Henry said.
“During the chase, the victim managed to jump from the bus and was immediately rescued. The police pursued the vehicle, which was abandoned, and arrested one suspect while the others escaped into the nearby bush.
“The Command is now investigating further to identify other members of the syndicate and determine the full extent of their criminal activities.”
The Police PRO vowed that the Imo State Police Command will continue to combat violent crime and ensure the safety of the community.
He further called on the citizens to be vigilant of any criminal activities as well as report any suspicious activities, assuring that further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.