Imo State Police Command has distanced itself from the confessional statements made by three suspects arrested over the alleged kidnapping and killing of Retired Major General Richard Duru.
Recall that Major General Duru was kidnapped on September 27, 2023, along Bishops Court, Area 7 Orji/Uratta Owerri, and his black Mercedes Benz G.L. 450 car with registration number LND 826 NG was snatched by a suspected kidnapping syndicate.
In a release signed by the Command’s spokesman, ASP Henry Okoye, faulted the claims by the suspects, insisting that the Army chief is still alive, and efforts are in place to rescue the victim and arrest the abductors.
He further disclosed that a special unit inaugurated by the Police Commissioner, CP Aboki Danjuma, over the incident is still carrying out an investigation and “have made tremendous progress based on the confessional statements of the three suspects and through technical intelligence.”
The release reads, “Sequel to the Command’s press briefing of May 16, 2024, on the progress made in the reported case of kidnapping of Retired Major General Richard Duru, where the three arrested suspects made confessional statements in the course of interrogation, to be members of the Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate Eastern Security Network (ESN), to be amongst the syndicate that kidnapped the Retired General and allegedly murdered him, the Command is yet to confirm in strong terms this allegation.
“However, the high-powered investigation team, inaugurated by the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, psc (+), on the day the incident was reported, are still investigating and have made tremendous progress based on the confessional statements of the three suspects and through technical intelligence.
“Meanwhile, the command is using this medium to call on Imolites and the general public, especially the family of the victim, not to lose faith and to disregard the confessional statements made by the three suspects during the press briefing, as the investigation is ongoing, and all the Security Agencies are working in synergy to rescue the kidnap victim unhurt, arrest the perpetrators, unravel their identity, and make them face the full wrath of the law. While adequate security measures have been emplaced in the State to forestall future occurrences.
“Finally, the Command is calling on the general public to assist the police with credible information and to report any clandestine activities or suspicious persons seen within their community to the nearest police station or any security agency or call the Command’s control emergency numbers 08034773600 or 08098880197.”