Eight members of the Scripture Union Nigeria have been kidnapped. The police command in Imo disclosed that they were abducted on Sunday along the boundary between Imo and Anambra.
The command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, said on Wednesday that the SU members were abducted and the police had launched a manhunt for the kidnappers in collaboration with the command in Anambra to rescue the hostages.
Mr Okoye stated, “We are aware of the incident. The incident actually happened on Sunday, the 14th of June 2026. But unfortunately, we did not get the information that they were abducted on the 14th of June.
“Rather, we received it on Monday. That was the day the church authorities sent a representative to inform us that some of their members were abducted.
“We have commenced a thorough investigation in synergy with the Anambra state police command, because this incident happened at the boundary between Imo and Anambra states. There is a discreet investigation ongoing.”
Mr Okoye disclosed that the command had begun tracking the perpetrators and had been able to identify the suspected location of the victims and their abductors.
He assured that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victims unhurt and arrest the suspects behind the act.
“We have commenced tracking analysis. We have been able to get suspected coordinates where we believe these suspects are. An intensive operation is ongoing. I strongly believe that with the plans we have on the ground, we will be able to rescue these victims, arrest the perpetrators and make them face the full wrath of the law,” the police spokesman in Anambra explained.
Mr Okoye noted that the security situation in the country required that organisations, including religious groups, should properly inform the police authorities about important gatherings.
“Notwithstanding, we have commenced our investigation. We have done tracking. We have the coordinates of the possible locations where these victims are, and we are planning intensive operations in synergy with the Anambra state police command to rescue these victims unhurt and also arrest the perpetrators,” the officer explained.
DIPLOMATICINFO gathered that the church held a national conference from June 11 to June 14, at Camp of Faith, Okigwe, Imo.
Among the kidnapped are the SU director general, Uwem Cosmas and a 300-level Law student of the University of Ibadan, Abolarin Tomisin.
Ms Tomisin was identified as the national secretary of the SU’s student fellowship in Nigeria and the SU vice-president of the University of Ibadan chapter.
UI spokesperson, Adejoke Akinpelu, disclosed that the university had been approached by the church leadership. She added that the institution’s dean of students, Demola Lewis, had informed the State Security Service about the incident.
“The lady named is one of the Scripture Union personnel abducted in Imo State. The University has been informed by the Scripture Union. The DSA is also engaging the DSS on the matter,” Ms Akinpelu stated.
The church’s legal representative, Franca Otuokere, did not immediately return a request for comment.
Tochukwu Okoye, the spokesman for the police command in Anambra, also did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the kidnapping.
