The Imo State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the abduction and subsequent killing of one of its operatives.

The police inspector, Augustine Ukegbu, was reportedly abducted in his village, Umuoshike Ogbor in the Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.

His corpse was said to have been recovered later in a bush.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, confirmed the development to PUNCH Metro on Wednesday.

Okoye said that the command had commenced an investigation into the matter.

Our correspondent learnt that the deceased travelled to his village to celebrate Easter with his family members when the incident happened.

A police source who did not want his name in print because he is not the command’s spokesman said the inspector was kidnapped from his house on his arrival from his base in Owerri and his corpse was later found in a bush along Mbutu in the Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area.

The source said, “Inspector Augustine Ukegbu, who was serving at Orji Police Divisional Headquarters, went home to celebrate Easter with his family at Aboh Mbaise. Around 11pm on April 8, some gunmen who came in a Lexus SUV kidnapped him from his house in the village.

“The abduction was reported at Oke Ovoro Police Division. The vehicle he was kidnapped with was later found abandoned along the Mbutu Road in Aboh Mbaise. Policemen visited the scene and the surrounding bush was searched and the inspector’s corpse was found.”

He added that the inspector’s corpse had been deposited in a mortuary in the area by some police operatives and that the abandoned vehicle recovered.

Another source said, “I saw Inspector Augustine in Owerri and he told me he was travelling to celebrate Easter with his family at Mbaise. We exchanged pleasantries and I wished him journey mercy.

“He was serving at Orji Police Division and had served at the headquarters in Owerri. He was an operative of the Special Weapons and Tactics Department. I am saddened by his death.”