Police Arrest IPOB Commander, Destroy Training Camps In Ebonyi

Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested two members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the security arm of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

IPOB Commander Arrested

The command spokesman, SP Chris Anyanwu, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said the suspects were arrested when the military joint force stormed their hideouts in “a thick forest” in Omege village, Agba community, Ishielu LGA.

Anyawu said the police raided three training camps of the proscribed group and recovered assorted arms and ammunition, military uniforms and many incriminating exhibits.

He said, “The operation, spearheaded by the Command’s Tactical teams and assisted by the Military and DSS in the State, was prompted by quantum pieces of reliable evidence, professionally elicited from the interrogation of Nnamdi Ngwuta Obaji aka State Commander No. 3 and another operative of the outlawed group, Felix Ogudu who 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 and 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, dived into the Opeke River and swarm to different directions as they scampered for safety.

“However, a good number of them were neutralized while many escaped with bullet injuries. Also, after dislodging the criminal elements and taking over the ground, the camp, which they christened ‘IGBO BU IGBO TRAINING SCHOOL CAMP’, was ransacked and destroyed. Equally, a wooden bridge under construction intended to aid the miscreants in their coming and going was dismantled.

“Items recovered from the gang were 11 bullet-proof jackets, eight sets of Military camouflage uniforms, two camp-gas cookers, 110 rounds of FNC live ammunition, 40 rounds of GPMG live ammunition, and two PRO electronics scanners (EOD equipment).

“Other items include five empty canons, five single-barrel guns, nine assorted GSM handsets, three locally-fabricated revolver pistols, one white Toyota Hilux vehicle, a bunch of keys, three NIN slips bearing different names, one exercise book with coded names/GSM numbers of the suspects, one voter’s card, three hammers, two assault rifle butts, 25 camping mosquito nets, and fetish substances suspected to be charms.

“Also, one Mercedes Benz 190 car with Reg No. SKA 306 AA, one Biafran-map calendar and other things, were recovered. However, a good number of them were neutralized.”

Anyanwu further noted that the gang was also be suspected to have taken part in the attack of the Provost of Federal College of Education, Isu Onicha along Agba axis a few days ago.

KanyiDaily had also reported how gunmen suspected to be IPOB/ESN members allegedly killed two policemen during an attack at the Imo police station.