The incident occurred on the evening of Sunday, 12 July 2026 when armed police operatives travelling in a white bus reportedly rounded up several young men along the roadside and forced them into the vehicle without explanation. The group said the operation was corroborated by more than one eyewitness and appeared, to onlookers, like an abduction in progress.
According to RULAAC, alarmed residents alerted soldiers stationed at a nearby military checkpoint, who then intercepted the vehicle believing they were confronting kidnappers. A violent confrontation was reportedly averted only after the men in the bus identified themselves as police officers. Some of the young men who had been picked up were said to have been released following the soldiers’ intervention.
RULAAC’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said that if the account is accurate, it points to serious problems in how some police operations are conducted. He argued that law enforcement activities should be professional, lawful, clearly identifiable, and intelligence-driven — not carried out in ways that mimic criminal abduction and put both officers and civilians at risk.
The organisation said such incidents damage public confidence in the police and undermine efforts by the Nigeria Police Force’s leadership to promote accountability and community-based policing.
RULAAC said it had already notified the Commissioner of Police for Imo State, who indicated that the matter was being addressed. The group commended the quick response but pressed for a transparent and impartial probe.
Among its specific demands, RULAAC wants the Imo State Police Command to: Identify the officers and unit involved in the operation, determine whether the operation followed constitutional and legal guidelines, including the Nigeria Police Act and Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
It also seeks to establish the circumstances of the young men’s apprehension and whether their rights were breached and a publicly release investigation findings and hold anyone found culpable accountable.
The group also appealed to members of the public with photos, videos, or firsthand accounts of the incident to come forward and assist investigators.
RULAAC said a transparent handling of the case would help reassure Imo residents that police operations remain lawful and that officers are not exempt from accountability.