The Imo State Police Command mentioned a joint activity drive of police and troops of the Nigeria Military has dislodged members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, from a camp in Ihite-Owerre, Orlu Native Authorities Space.
In response to an announcement by the command’s spokesman, ASP Henry Okoye, launched on Tuesday in Owerri, a cache of arms and ammunition belonging to the prison group was recovered.
Okoye additionally mentioned a suspected member of the Japanese Safety Community, ESN―the armed group of the proscribed IPOB―was arrested in the course of the raid on the camp.
He mentioned the raid was carried out on Monday following circumstances of kidnappings involving a Federal Highway Security Corps officer, Sabinus Ugwuebu and the previous chairman of Imo conventional rulers, Eze Samuel Ohiri.
“Police operatives in synergy with the army on January 8, at about 3:30 am, stormed a suspected terrorist camp at Ihite Owerre, in Orlu Native Authorities Space of Imo, and arrested one suspect whereas others escaped with gunshot accidents after a protracted gunfight with the terrorists.
“On looking out the camp, one pump-action gun, two double-barrel weapons, two single-barrel weapons, and 54 rounds of reside cartridges have been recovered. Army uniforms, six bikes, a field containing regionally made explosives, and FRSC uniforms of the kidnapped officer have been recovered.
“A concerted investigative effort is in progress to arrest the fleeing suspects and presumably rescue the kidnapped victims. The suspects might be arraigned in courtroom upon completion of investigations,” Okoye said.
He reiterated the resolve of the state’s Commissioner for Police, Aboki Danjuma, to collaborate with the army and different safety businesses in the direction of stamping out all types of crime and criminality within the state.
He additionally restated Danjuma’s promise that the command wouldn’t relaxation till the kidnapped victims have been launched and the culprits delivered to ebook.