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From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The Imo State Police Command said it has arrested the sector commander, the chief priest and nine members of the proscribed secessionist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), allegedly involved in the killing of five policemen and two civilians in Ngor-Okpala council area of the state, a fortnight ago.
Spokesman of the state police command, Henry Okoye, in a statement, disclosed that the command acted on a tip-off and dispatched its tactical team, led by SP Odeyeyiwa Oladimeji, who arrested one Mathew Chukwuma, aged 48, from Mpam Ahiazu-Mbaise LGA of Imo State, at his hideout in Umuahia, Abia State.
The statement reads: “After interrogating him, he confessed to be the Sector Commander of the dreaded IPOB/ESN syndicate in Mbaise and assisted the curious operatives in arresting three of his members namely; Ojoko Ikechukwu, 53 years, of Umugwa; Chilaka Charles, aged 44, of Umuezuo, and Anthony Iwu, aged 50 years, of Umugwa, all in Umuokirika, in Ahiazu-Mbaise LGA of Imo State.”
The statement further read: “In the course of investigation, the suspects confessed to be members of the dreaded IPOB/ESN syndicate terrorising the good people of Imo State and had a hand in the recent killing of five police officers and two civilians at Ngor-Okpala LGA.
“They also volunteered crucial information that assisted the operatives in raiding their second hideout in Itu, Ezinihitte-Mbaise LGA of Imo State, which led to the arrest of another four suspected members of the proscribed secessionist group. The suspects were on the command’s wanted list due to their nefarious activities.
“On sighting the operatives of the police, the notorious criminals engaged them in a fierce gun duel, but were overpowered by the superior fire power of the combat-ready tactical squad, which forced them to surrender all their weapons.
“Those arrested at Itu are one Damian Ibe, aged 50 years; Iwuala Simeon, 31 years, both of Mpam in Ahiazu-Mbaise LGA, and Obali Paul, 70 years, who hails from Itu in Ezinihitte-Mbaise LGA of Imo State. The 70-year-old man is said to be the chief priest of the criminal gang, while others escaped with varying degrees of bullet injuries.”
The release further noted that several ammunition were recovered, including one cut-to-size AK47 rifle, 190 rounds of live 7.62 mm ammunition, two AK47 magazines, two cut-to-size double barrel guns, one locally fabricated Beretta pistol, three pump action guns, two single barrel locally made guns, one locally made pistol, one cut-to-size gun, 50 rounds of 7.66mm live ammunition, 38 rounds of live cartridges, two AK47 magazines, two locally made explosive devices, one iphone, one H-mobile, walkie-talkie, three cow horns painted with Biafran insignia, two Biafran Jewish caps, Jewish flag, large quantity of weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa and some fetish objects.
The command has promised to expedite more action towards arresting other fleeing members of the syndicate and bringing them to face the wrath of the law.
Meanwhile, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Barde, has appealed to the people to join hands with the police and other security agencies in the crusade against terrorism and always report any suspicious activities or treatment of gunshots injuries at any hospitals to the command.
