Imo Police Arrest IPOB Native Doctor, 146 Other Crime Suspects

The Imo State Police command has arrested a 37-year-old native doctor, Ozioma Ihedoro, who allegedly confessed to being the spiritual adviser to an IPOB/ESN commander known as “B44″, even as one AK47 rifle and other weapons were recovered from him.

Police spokesperson for Imo State Command, DSP Henry Okoye disclosed  this yesterday.

According to him, a total of 147 suspects were arrested by the Imo Police Command.

Okoye said the 147 suspects were arrested for various offences ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, rape, stealing, receiving stolen property, child trafficking, and terrorism.

He said seven AK-47 rifles, three AK-47 magazines, seven pump action guns, seven locally fabricated long guns, 178 live cartridges, three motorcycles, various denominations of Biafra currency, four Biafra flags, and several criminal charms were recovered from the suspects.

According to Okoye, over the past two months, the Imo State Police Command had intensified its efforts in enhancing the peace and security of the state through series of well coordinated operations across the state, saying the efforts, executed under the strategic leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, had resulted in significant successes in combating crime.

He said, “Following thorough investigations and intelligence-led operations, 147 suspects were arrested for crimes including armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, rape, stealing, receiving stolen property, child trafficking, and terrorism. Recovered from these suspects were 7 AK-47 rifles, 3 AK-47 magazines, 7 pump action guns, 7 locally fabricated long guns, 178 live cartridges, 3 motorcycles, various denominations of Biafra currency, 4 Biafra flags, and several criminal charms.”

“In the course of the operations, five armed suspects were neutralized during fierce gun battles with police operatives, and seven kidnapped victims were successfully rescued.

“A major breakthrough occurred on 20th May 2025 around 1600hrs in Umuaka, Njaba LGA, when Anti-Kidnapping operatives arrested Ozioma Ihedoro, a 37-year-old native doctor on the Command’s wanted list. He admitted to being the spiritual adviser to an IPOB/ESN commander known as “B44.” A search of his shrine recovered an AK-47 rifle, three magazines, and seven live rounds. He is cooperating with investigators, providing intelligence to dismantle other syndicates at large.

“In a related development on 19th May 2025, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, in synergy with operatives of Njaba Division, arrested three armed robbery suspects—Chinonso Anayo (aka Pablo, 24), Emmanuel John (21), and Ifeanyi John (20), all from Isiagu, Ebonyi State. They were apprehended during a surveillance operation and confessed to multiple robberies. Police recovered one Q-Link motorcycle, two pump action guns, and fifteen live cartridges”, Okoye said.

Meanwhile, the Imo Police boss, Aboki Danjuma, has praised the operatives for their resilience and reaffirmed the command’s commitment alongside other security agencies to safeguard lives and property.

Danjuma said security measures had “been strengthened across the state to eliminate kidnapping and violent crimes and urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or the emergency line: 0803 477 3600”.