‘Five IPOB Members’ Arrested Over Killing Of Imo Police Officer

• “Discreet investigation is in progress with a view to effecting further arrests” – Police

At least five persons suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have been apprehended in connection with the killing of Joseph Nwaka, a sergeant, police in Imo have said.

The state police command disclosed the development in a statement by Orlando Ikeokwu, the its public relations officer.

According to Ikeokwu, some of the suspects were arrested in Isu LGA of the state on Thursday, while the others were nabbed on Friday by the anti-kidnapping unit and tactical teams of the command.

He added that the killers of Nwaka who, until his recent death, was attached to the command’s department of operations, carted away with his AK 47 rifle.

Ikeokwu said an AK 47 rifle with breech no 56-258115, 15 rounds of live ammunition, four locally fabricated weapons, six live cartridges, and a large quantity of weed suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from the suspects.

According to him, Onyekachi Mmadufor, one of the suspects, confessed to being a member of the IPOB who, along with his cohorts, carried out attacks and killings of police and other security personnel.

“The crime prevention and control strategies adopted by the Imo Police Command under the leadership of Commissioner of Police (CP) Abutu Yaro, to rid the state of activities of the proscribed IPOB and other criminal elements are yielding positive results,” the statement read.

“On May 14, the CP deployed Anti-Kidnapping unit and other tactical teams of the command to Amanato Isu LGA for the arrest of members of the IPOB but the hoodlums engaged them in a heavy gun duel.

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“The operatives successfully repelled and dislodged them leading to the immediate arrest of five suspects while others escaped with possible gunshot wounds.

“Discreet investigation is in progress with a view to effecting further arrests, after which they will be charged to court for prosecution.”

Ikeokwu said Abutu Yaro, the state commissioner of police, commended the operatives for “a job well done” and enjoined them to sustain the tempo so as to ensure lasting security and safety of Imo residents and Nigerians at large.

He also implored the public to support the police and the state government in their efforts to ensure peace in the state.

Security agents, as well as government facilities, have been targets of attacks in the south-east and south-south region of the country.

Also, the federal government recently approved new security measures to be deployed to restore peace in the south-east and south-south.