The Imo State Police Command’s Anti-kidnapping squad successfully raided the hideout of the Indigenous People of Biafra at Mgbidi in Oru West LGA of Imo State.
The operation led to the arrest of the IPOB commander, Ikechukwu Uba, and three others.
The State Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, provided details in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to Okoye, the arrest followed actionable intelligence on the alleged IPOB/ESN commander, Ikechukwu Uba.
The Anti-Kidnapping Squad, led by CSP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, carried out the operation on December 16, 2023.
The police spokesperson stated, “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.”
Uba reportedly revealed during questioning that he received funding from Simon Ekpa, based in Finland, to carry out terrorist attacks in the state.
The police recovered two locally made revolver long guns, one double-barrel long gun, and 33 rounds of live cartridges during a search at Uba’s residence.
Investigations are ongoing, and the suspects will be arraigned in court upon completion.
In a separate operation, operatives of Nekede Divisional Headquarters arrested a suspected kidnapper, Sylvester Humble, during an intelligence-led surveillance patrol.
The suspect, from Umuoma Nekede in Owerri West LGA, admitted to being a member of a notorious kidnapping syndicate operating in Nekekde and Ihiagwa in Imo State.
One locally made pistol was recovered from him, and he is cooperating with the police, providing useful information for further arrests.
Humble will be arraigned upon completion of a comprehensive investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Imo State, CP Aboki Danjuma, commended the operatives for their efforts and urged them to sustain the fight against all forms of crime in the state.
He assured the people of enhanced proactive security strategies during and after the Yuletide season.
