Police arrest IPOB/ESN commander, recover arms, ammunition in Ebonyi
By CHARLES ONYEKWERE
The police in Ebonyi state have arrested the commander and other members of Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB /Eastern security Network (ESN).
Items recovered from them include assorted arms/ ammunition, military uniforms and other incriminating exhibits.
A statement made available to newsmen in Abakaliki on Sunday, by police Public Relations officer (PPRO), SP Chris Anyanwu, said they were arrested in a thick forest close to Opeke River, in Omege village, Agba, in lshielu Local government area of the state.
According to the statement, the feat was in a bid to sustain the laudable tempo of proactiveness with the desire to rid the State of crime and criminality especially as the Yuletide/Political seasons have set in.
“The Ebonyi State Police Command under the able leadership of CP Aliyu Garba armed with credible intelligence stormed three big Camps of the outlawed IPOB/ESN operatives (including a new one under active construction), located in a thick forest close to Opeke River, in Omege village Agba Community,
of Ishielu LGA.”
The statement further disclosed that the operation was spearheaded by the Command’s Tactical teams, assisted by other sister agencies including the Military and DSS in the State.
He stated that it was prompted by quantum pieces of reliable evidence, professionally elicited from interrogation of Nnamdi Ngwuta Obaji aka State Commander No.3 and another operative of the outlawed group, Felix Ogudu were earlier arrested.
“While accessing/cordoning the Camps, the combined teams were ambushed by the criminal elements with rains of sporadic shooting in their direction.
“Without hesitation, the allied team swiftly responded and engaged them in the same manner and of course their superior firepower subdued the miscreants, who chanted morale-boasting war songs, divided into the Opeke River and swarm to different directions as they scampered for safety.
Read Also: Unknown Gunmen Attack Police Team, Set Vehicle Ablaze.
However, according to the statement, a good number of them were neutralized while many escaped with bullet injuries.
Other incriminating exhibits from them include 11 bullet-proof jackets,
8 sets of Military camouflage uniforms,
2 camp-gas cookers, 110 rounds of FNC live ammunition, 40 rounds of GPMG live ammunition, 2 PRO electronics scanners (EOD equipment), 5 empty canons,
5 single-barrel guns, 9 assorted GSM handsets, 3 locally-fabricated revolver pistols, 1 white Toyota Hilux vehicle,
a bunch of keys, 3 NIN slips bearing different names, 1 exercise book with coded names/GSM numbers of the suspects,1 voter’s card,
3 hammers, 2 Assault rifle butts,
25 camping mosquito nets,
fetish substances suspected to be charms,1 Mercedes Benz 190 car with Reg No. SKA 306 AA, 1 Biafran-map Calendar and their sundry other insignia/accoutrements.
The Commissioner of Police, therefore implores the good citizens of Ebonyi State to assist the Command with credible and reliable information that would help to arrest the hoodlums in order to rid the State of heinous crimes, especially during the fast-approaching Christmas/New Year celebrations as well as the Electioneering period.
The CP further advised the political gladiators to eschew the practice of hiring thugs before, during and after the 2023 elections
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