By Sophia Afolabi

A former member of the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Ngozi Ogbu, has regained freedom after he was abducted by a notorious kidnap gang operating in the Okigwe axis of Imo State.

It was gathered that Ogbu, who once represented the Okigwe state constituency, had allegedly gone to a criminal enclave controlled by a feared terror kingpin known as Gentle the Yahoo, to plead for peace so he could bury a deceased relative without interference. However, the peace mission turned sour as he was taken hostage alongside several others.

In a chilling video released by the gang, Gentle the Yahoo and his deputy, identified as Angel Make Up, were seen parading the lawmaker at gunpoint and issuing threats to execute him if security forces did not withdraw from the Okigwe region. The video sparked outrage on social media, with many questioning the growing boldness of criminal groups in the state.

But in what appears to be a tactical breakthrough, Nigerian Army troops reportedly stormed the kidnappers’ hideout located in Aku, Okigwe, during a late-night operation. Over a dozen hostages, including the former lawmaker, were rescued alive. The gang reportedly fled into nearby bushes during the assault, abandoning their captives.

Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, said: “The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the release of Hon. Ngozi Ogbu, the former legislator who represented Okigwe State Constituency. He was released yesterday night. The Command is working in synergy with other security agencies to make sure his abductors are apprehended and brought to book.

“The Imo State Police Command reassures members of the public that we are ever committed to enhancing peace and security of everyone in Imo State,” Okoye added.

However, residents say the rescue is a rare exception in a region where kidnappings and criminal violence have become disturbingly routine. “This one made headlines because he’s a politician. What about the dozens of others who never come back? Who is rescuing them?” a resident of Okigwe told SaharaReporters.

There is growing concern that the state government and security agencies are either overwhelmed or complicit in the growing insecurity plaguing Imo State. Armed groups, some claiming to be separatists, others acting purely as criminal syndicates, have continued to terrorize rural communities, with killings, extortion, and abductions now a near-daily occurrence in parts of the state.