Alan Pansu

Staying fit, staying sharp! 💪🏽 🤸🏾‍♂️ 🏋🏻‍♀️ The IGP, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, took officers through a fitness exercise today, emphasising the importance of good health, physical fitness and alertness in policing. A healthy and fit officer is always better prepared for the task of keeping Nigerians safe. 🇳🇬

This is where l first became a DPO. This is where i tested my leadership abilities - IGP TUNJI DISU

A HUSBAND’S NIGHTMARE: HOW BAYELSA VCRU RESCUED SARAH AFTER MONTH-LONG KIDNAP ORDEAL For nearly one month, a Bayelsa man lived through every husband’s worst nightmare, knowing that his wife, Sarah Ama, was alive, but trapped somewhere deep in the creeks in the hands of kidnappers. Sarah was abducted on 28th July, 2026, and from that moment, her husband’s life became a painful cycle of anxiety, negotiations and desperate prayers for her safe return. The kidnappers initially demanded N50,000,000, then N30,000,000. After prolonged negotiations, the demand was eventually reduced, and the husband first paid N300,000. The kidnappers subsequently demanded and collected another N1,500,000, bringing the total ransom paid to N1,800,000. But instead of honouring their promise to release their victim after receiving the money, the criminals raised the stakes, demanding a further ₦3,500,000 to finally release Sarah. The kidnappers, in their greed, demanded more money. “Do you think we will release your wife? My friend! Go and look for another ₦3,500,000.” What they did not know was that their greed would eventually provide the police with the opportunity to rescue their victim. While the kidnappers were busy in town enjoying the ₦1.5 million they had collected, they made a critical mistake: they left only one of their men behind to guard Sarah. For the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the Nigeria Police Force, that was an opportunity that could not be missed. The VCRU, a brainchild of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, was established to tackle serious and violent crimes, including kidnapping, through intelligence-led and technology-driven policing. In Bayelsa, the rescue operation was spearheaded by the VCRU Commander, CSP Chris Nwaogbo, but it was not a mission conceived overnight. For days, Nwaogbo had been studying the terrain. He personally carried out surveillance around the creeks several times with his boat, navigating the difficult waterways and gathering information about the area. Each trip brought the police closer to understanding where Sarah was being held and how the kidnappers were operating. Then came 22nd August, 2026. Armed with vital intelligence gathered from several sources, the VCRU Commander sought and obtained the approval of the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, CP Adewale Ajao, to launch the operation. This time, there would be no turning back. Nwaogbo fuelled his gun-boat to capacity. In the dead of night, with the creeks cloaked in darkness, he set out with his team on the dangerous journey to the kidnappers’ hideout. The operation demanded precision. One wrong move could alert the criminals and put Sarah’s life, as well as those of the rescuers, in danger. Technology had already provided a crucial advantage. With the assistance of a police officer equipped with specialised tracking capabilities, investigators had been able to follow a fresh telephone line used by the kidnappers after they changed numbers. But technology alone was not enough. Local intelligence was also deployed. A local fisherman familiar with the terrain was able to confirm that Sarah was still being held in the forest. Piece by piece, the VCRU assembled the intelligence needed for the strike. And as Nwaogbo and his team moved through the creeks in the darkness, they knew exactly what they were going after. When the team finally reached the hideout, the situation was almost unbelievable. The majority of the kidnappers had left to spend the ransom money. Only one remained behind. He was arrested. Inside the hideout was Sarah, blindfolded and having spent almost a month in captivity. She was rescued. The operation also led to the recovery of extended ammunition and live cartridges. But the rescue came with another chilling revelation. Sarah’s husband reportedly discovered that the suspect arrested was his own neighbour, a man who regularly visited his compound to