The Imo State Police Command has arrested nine suspects terrorizing parts of the state. The arrest comes less than two weeks after gunmen attacked and killed four police officers at a restaurant in Ngor Okpala community of the state.
In a statement released to journalists on Sunday, the command spokesman, ASP Henry Okoye, said the command also seized weapons and ammunition from the suspect’s hideout.
Okoye said the arrest follows an order from Mr. Mohammed Barde, Commissioner of Police in the state, to launch a detailed investigation and manhunt to reveal the perpetrators of Ngor Okpala’s despicable acts. He said:
Acting on the CP’s directives, a detachment of the Command’s tactical team on April 24 at about 1730hrs after a diligent gathering of credible intelligence, arrested one Mathew Chuwkuma, 48 years, of Mpam Ahaizu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, in his hideout at Umuahia, Abia.
He confessed to being the Sector Commander of the proscribed and dreadful IPOB/Eastern Security Network syndicate in Mbaise and assisted the curious operatives in arresting three of his syndicate,”
He listed the names of the suspects as Ojoko Ikechukwu, 53; Chilaka Charles, 44; and Anthony Iwu, 50, who were all arrested in their criminal hideout at Umuokiria, Ahaizu Mbaise Local Government Area of the state, while others escaped.
According to Okoye, the terrorist hideout yielded one cut-to-size AK 47 rifle, 190 rounds of live 7.62 mm ammunition, two AK 47 magazines, two cut-to-size double barrel guns, and one locally fabricated Beretta pistol. He added:
“During the investigation, the suspects all confessed to being members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN syndicate terrorizing the good people of Imo and had a hand in the recent killing of four Police officers and two civilians at Ngor Okpala.
They volunteered crucial information that assisted the determined operatives on April 27 at about 1240hrs in raiding their second hideout/shrine in Itu, Ezinitte Mbaise local government area of Imo, which led to the arrest of four other notorious IPOB/ESN suspects famous on the command’s wanted list due to their nefarious activities.
On sighting the operatives, the notorious criminal syndicate engaged them in a fierce gun duel but were overpowered by the super firepower of the combat-ready tactical squad, which forced them to disarray and resulted in the arrest of four other suspects.
The police spokesman named the suspects: Ibe Demian (50), Iwuala Simon (31), Nwabueze Ahiwe (47), and Obali Paul (70), the chief priest of the criminal syndicate.
He said some other suspects escaped with various degrees of bullet injuries.
On searching their second hideout which also serves as a shrine where they perform fetish rituals, one AK 47 rifle, three pump action guns, two single barrel locally made guns, one locally made pistol and one cut-to-size gun were recovered.
Also recovered were 50 rounds of 7.66mm live ammunition, 38 rounds of live cartridges, two AK 47 magazines, two locally made explosive devices, one iPhone, one H-mobile, walkie-talkie, three cow horns painted with Biafran Insignia, two Biafran Jewish caps and a Jewish flag.
Frantic investigating efforts are on top gear to arrest other syndicate members and make them face the full wrath of the law.
“The commissioner of police, while commending the operatives for a job well done, stressed that policing is a collective responsibility,” he emphasized. He added that a large quantity of weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa and other fetish objects were equally recovered.
He appealed to Imo people to join hands with the Police and sister security agencies in the crusade against terrorism. In addition, to report any suspicious activity or persons seen with or treating gunshot injury to the nearest Police station.
Okoye released the command’s phone lines: 08034773700 and 08098880197, for any emergency.
cc: Punch Ng
