Operatives of the Imo State Police Command’s anti-kidnapping squad have raided the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) hideout at Mgbidi in Oru West LGA of Imo State and arrested their commander identified as Ikechukwu Uba and three others.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the State Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye said that the arrest followed a diligently gathered actionable intelligence on a deadly IPOB/ESN Commande Ikechukwu Uba, who hails from Emoha Mgbidi, in Oru West LGA, of Imo State.
He said operatives of the Command’s anti-Kidnapping squad led by CSP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa had stormed the hideout of the suspects on 16th December 2023.
The PPRO said that the suspect on interrogation confessed to being a member of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), commanding the Mgbidi axis who also masterminded the attacks on Omuma Police Station and soldiers at Mgbidi and Awo-Mmama.
The commander according to the police spokesman narrated further that he receives funding from the Finland-based Simon Ekpa to carry out terrorist attacks in the state.
Okoye said that the suspects provided useful information to the operatives that led to the arrest of one of their alleged sponsors, HRH EZE Anozie Augustine Agbarambo ‘m’, 51 yrs, the Traditional Ruler of Isi Mgbidi, Emoha Mgbidi autonomous community in Imo State.
He said that two locally made revolver long guns, one double barrel long gun, and 33 rounds of live cartridges were recovered from his house during an intense search
The PPRO said that the investigation is in progress and the suspects will be arraigned in court upon completion of a diligent investigation.
Similarly, operatives of Nekede Divisional Headquarters while on intelligence-led surveillance patrol have arrested a suspected kidnapper named, Sylvester Humble, ‘m’, of Umuoma Nekede in Owerri West LGA of Imo State
ASP Okoye said that one locally made pistol in his possession was recovered during the search
He said that the suspect in the course of the investigation admitted to being a member of a notorious kidnapping syndicate terrorising the residents of Nekekde and Ihiagwa in Imo State.
Okoye said that he has volunteered useful information that will assist the police in the arrest of his cohorts at large while he will be arraigned upon completion of a comprehensive investigation.
In his words of appreciation, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State, CP Aboki Danjuma commended the gallant operatives for sustained efforts in achieving this operational feat while charging them to sustain the tempo in the fight against all forms of crime and criminality in the state.
The CP assured the good people of Imo State that the command has placed enhanced proactive security strategies that will ensure the entire length and breadth of the State is adequately policed during and after the Yuletide season
The IPOB/ESN commander was arrested by the Imo State Police Command and three others, including the notorious kidnapper arrested in Imo State.
