The Ebonyi State Police Command, on Tuesday, paraded a native doctor and about 10 members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the State.
The State Police Commissioner, CP Augustina Ogbodo, paraded the suspects at the Command’s headquarters in Abakaliki, the State capital.
The CP maintained that the recent arrests followed an intelligence-driven and community-based Policing, adding that the suspected IPOB/ESN members were intercepted while trying to enforce the unlawful sit-at-home order in Ohaozara local government area of the State recently.
She said: “The tactical teams immediately on receipt of the distress call, swung into action. The hoodlums were trailed to Akaeze/Uburu where there was a gun duel between them.
“The suspected IPOB/ESN members numbering about ten were subdued by the superior fire power of the Police which led to some of them sustaining bullet wounds while trying to run into the bush for cover.”
CP Ogbodo said that upon interrogation, the suspects disclosed the identity and location of their native doctor.
“The tactical operatives of the Command stormed the native doctor’s house at Amanator Isu Onicha L.G.A of Ebonyi State and arrested five other persons trying to fortify themselves,” she stated.
She gave the names of the persons arrested as Emmanuel Edwin, Innocent Odii, Sunday Nwenne, Chika Ogad, Sunday Chukwu and Okonkwo Victor
According to her, exhibits recovered from the hoodlums included one pump action gun, one AK-47 with breach no 400557, nine round of 762x39mm Ak-47 live ammunition, one Toyota highlander jeep, one generator, one motorcycle and assorted charms.
Similarly, a suspected fraudster, one Odom Maxwell, has been arrested and charged to court for advanced fee fraud.
CP Ogbodo noted that he was arrested after three persons wrote separate petitions accusing him of defrauding them of over N34.75m.
“The accused allegedly defrauded one Ogochukwu of N26.25m, one Nwibo Nathaniel Nnabuike of N3.30m and a Lawyer, Friday Agbom, of N5.20m.
“The said Odom Maxwell was successfully arrested in Asaba, Delta State and has been charged to court,” she said
The Police Commissioner further revealed that three other suspects, one Monday Nweke, Itumo Samuel and Nwigwe Jeremiah, were also paraded for alleged arson, adding that the three persons conspired and allegedly set ablaze the house of one Mrs Monica Nweke.
She said: “On the 30th of April 2023 about 0100hrs, one Monica Nweke Oshiebe of Ndiegu Ogboji in Ezza North LGA of Ebonyi state was sleeping in her house when some hoodlums numbering about twenty all male invaded her compound shooting into the air.
“Upon hearing the gunshots, her daughter one Victoria Nweke woke her up and they escaped through the back door to a nearby bush where they watched as the hoodlums set their house on fire and waited till the house was completely razed down.
“Three suspects namely:
Itumo Samuel a.k.a Almaco, Monday Nweke, Nwigwe Jeremiah Adindu all from the same Ndegu Ogboji community have been arrested and confessed to the crime while investigation is still ongoing to arrest the other suspects.”
