IPOB/ESN commanders arrested by police in Ebonyi

A joint operation between the Ebonyi State Police Command, the Department of State Security (DSS) and the military has resulted in the arrest of commanders and members of the outlawed IPOB group in Ebonyi state.

The arrests was made after the police raided 3 camps of the proscribed group which the police said were located in a thick forest close to Opeke River, in Omege village Agba Community, of Ishielu LGA.

In a press statement released on Sunday, SP Chris Anyanwu, the command’s PPRO said the police recovered assorted arms and ammunitions among other incriminating evidence.

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“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 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 firepower subdued the miscreants.

“They chanted morale-boasting war songs, dived into the Opeke River and swam to different directions as they scampered for safety.

“However, a good number of them were neutralised while many escaped with bullet injuries.

“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.

The Ebonyi police spokesperson listed the recovered exhibits to include 11 bullet-proof jackets and eight sets of military camouflage uniforms.

“Two camp-gas cookers, 110 rounds of FNC live ammunition, 40 rounds of GPMG live ammunition, two PRO electronics scanners (EOD equipment), five empty canons and five single-barrel guns were also recovered among others,” he added.