Police have arrested suspected IPOB/ESN Commander and Members in Imo State.
NewsOnline reports that Imo Police Command has confirmed the arrest of nine suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and one Sector Commander of the militia arm, Eastern Security Network( ESN) one Mathew Chuwkuma (48) of Mpam Ahaizu Mbaise Local government Area.
Imo Police spokesman Henry Okoye informed in a statement on Sunday: “Sequel to the attack of Police Officers on patrol attached to Ngor-Okpala/Mbaise Area Command at Ngor-Okpala, Imo State on 21/04/2023 by hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) where four gallant police officers lost their lives, the Commissioner of Police, Imo state, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde after on the spot assessment of the incident, directed the Command’s tactical teams to commence detailed investigation and manhunt to unravel the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
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The statement reads,”Acting on the CP’s directives, a detachment of the Command’s tactical team on 24/04/2023 at about 1730hrs after a diligent gathering of credible intelligence, arrested one Mathew Chuwkuma 48yrs ‘m’ of Mpam Ahaizu Mbaise LGA, Imo State, in his hideout at Umuahia, Abia State.
“He confessed to be the Sector Commander of a dreadful IPOB/ESN syndicate in Mbaise and assisted the curious operatives in arresting three of his syndicate namely; Ojoko Ikechukwu 53yrs ‘m’ of Umugwa, Chilaka Charles 44yrs ‘m’ of Umuezuo, and Anthony Iwu 50yrs ‘m’ of Umugwa all in Umuokiria, Ahaizu Mbaise LGA of Imo State in their Criminal hideout while others escaped.
“On searching the suspects and their hideout the following incriminating items were recovered; One cut to size AK 47 rifle, One hundred and Ninety rounds of live 7.62 mm Ammunition, Two AK 47 magazines, two cut-to-size double barrel guns, one locally fabricated Berretta pistol were recovered from the Terrorist hideout.
“In the course of the investigation, the suspects all confessed to being members of the dreadful IPOB/ESN syndicate terrorizing the good people of Imo State and had a hand in the recent killing of four Police officers and two civilians at Ngor Okpalla.”
