Imo State police have apprehended the suspected murders of a Divisional Police Officer and an Inspector in the state’s Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area.
On Sunday, the Commissioner of Police, Danjuma Aboki, paraded the suspects at the Command Headquarters in Owerri, the Imo State capital, saying that the relentless efforts of the police and other security operatives in unravelling the killers of the police officers led to the invasion of the Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network camp at Umuohie in the state’s Ngor Okpala LGA.
He stated that while several terrorists were dislodged, several arms and ammunition were recovered from the miscreants.
According to the police commissioner, some other criminals were also arrested for various criminal cases ranging from IPOB/ESN terrorism activities, armed robbery, murder, stealing/receiving stolen properties, cultism, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
“These are suspects that are evidently linked to respective cases against them while other miscreants were neutralised in fierce gun battle that ensued between them and the police team,” he stated.
“In the course of the investigation, a total number of 18 assault rifles, five AK-47 rifles, six pump actions and 359 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the suspects, including six vehicles, motorcycles, charms, military camouflage, police and other incriminatory items.
“Following the murder of the DPO of Ahiazu Mbaise and an inspector of police on 27th of November 2023 at Ahiara junction in Ahiazu-Mbaise by elements suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed militia security network and the subsequent confession of suspects arrested, on 29th of last month, stormed the camp of criminal syndicate at Umuohie in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, dislodged the terrorists recovered two automotive pump action rifles and six rounds of live cartridges.”
The arrest of the suspects is considered a breakthrough by police operatives, the Joint Task Force (JTF) and troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade who since November 27 started combing the scene of the crime for evidence.