Ebonyi State Police Command, weekend said it has attested the Commanders of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB/ Eastern Security Network, ESN, in a thick forest, close to Opeke River, in Omege village of Agba Community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
During their arrest, the combined team of police, the military and DSS, also recovered assorted arms, ammunition, military uniforms and many other incriminating exhibits from the criminals.
In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chris Anyanwu, the team “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”
“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 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 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.
“Without hesitation, the allied team swiftly responded and engaged them in same manner and of course their superior fire power 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.”
Exhibits recovered from the miscreants 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.”
Others are: “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.
“2 KYMCO motorcycles (one with Reg No. ENU 353 Q, while the other has no Reg No), 1 YAMAHA motorcycle with Reg No. QC 267 UML, 1 KC SAMSUNG motorcycle without Reg Number, 7 Military/Police bullet-proof jackets and 2 pairs of Military boots.”
According to the PPRO, “Not yet done, the joint team carried the onslaught to Anike Isu Onicha LGA, the abode and Shrine of the dare-devil State Commander of the organization popularly called Ambassador.
“The shrine which had a live-tortoise, was equally neutralized at the end of the assignment.”
“One of the Leaders of the organization popularly known as SARS COMMANDER with dread-locks on his head, said to be an indigene of Cross River State is on-the-run and is declared wanted.
“He and members of the outlawed IPOB/ESN are responsible for the attack on Police Stations, home town of former Chairman Ikwo of Ikwo LGA. The gang is also highly suspected to have partaken as a crimini participe in the attack of the Provost of Federal College of Education, Isu Onicha along Agba axis a few days ago judging from the proximity of their camp to the scene of the incident and many other similar ones in the State.”
The Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Garba called on the citizens of Ebonyi State to assist the Command with credible and reliable information that will help to arrest the hoodlums in order to rid the State of heinous crimes, especially during the Christmas/New Year celebrations as well as the Electioneering period.
He further advised political gladiators to eschew the practice of hiring thugs or paid-in criminals before, during and after the 2023 elections.
“They must be mindful of the new Electoral Act 2022 as well as the fact that the Law is a no respecter of anyone. Be rest assured that the tempo to fight crime and criminality in the State with the synergy of the Military, DSS and other sister agencies has been tuned to a higher frenzy.Thank you and remain blessed, please”.
