From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Imo State Police Command, yesterday, paraded an ex-Soldier, Nwangwu Chiwendu, of Amaohuru Nguru in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of the State.
The police alleged that the ex-Soldier, was the mastermind of several criminal activities in the state.
Nwangwu, 34, popularly known as Onye Army, was also alleged by the police to be responsible for the recent attacks at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters, Port Harcourt road, and other offices of the commission in the ward areas.
He allegedly confessed to have led the gang that killed Ahmed Gulak at airport road as well as a truck driver same day.
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Barde, said, Onye Army, was arrested in his village during the funeral ceremony of his father on December, 23.
According to the CP, Onye Army, who was a trained Engineer and specialised in servicing heavy weapons, quit the Military and joined the security arm of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Eastern Security Network (ESN), and rose to the rank of the operational Commander, and Chief Trainer of the group.
Narrating how he was arrested, the CP said, “the suspect, who sat on a vantage position, while his members were on surveillance, on sighting the police operatives, took to his heels, engaging the operatives in a shoot-out, using the crowd as a shield.
“The gallant police operatives, retaliated, professionally, and tactically to avoid bullet hitting innocent persons in the crowd. He was later arrested after a long chase alongside two of his gang members with bullet injuries,while others escaped.
“ Amazingly, he did not sustain any bullet injury; this he attributed to the charms worn all over his body he called “Odeshi” meaning native bullet proof.
“When the premises of the suspect was searched ,over 2000 INEC PVCs were found in his possession as well as Biafra currencies, charms, assorted security agents uniforms, and ESN regalia.
Others items are :five Pump Action guns,two double barreled guns,four locally made pistols, 50 rounds of live cartridges,nine locally made hand-grenades and rings.
The suspect, confessed Daily Sun that he allegedly killed the elder brother of popular Nollywood actor, Osita Iheme, popularly known as Pawpaw, Prince Iheme, who was riding along with the State commissioner for Solid Mineral, Martins Ekeh, in a vehicle to a function.
The commissioner was also brutalised during the incident.
Ekeh who was at the police command during the parade, identified Onye Army as the suspect who personally shot and killed PawPaw’s elder brother.
The suspect has equally named two prominent traditional rulers in the state as their sponsors .