The Imo State Police Command says it has arrested three suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday that operatives recovered more than 3,115 rounds of ammunition and surveillance drones from the suspects’ hideout.
According to Okoye, police operatives raided the group’s camp located in Nguru Aboh Mbaise LGA of Imo State on Saturday.
He said a gun battle broke out during the operation, leading to the arrest of three suspects, while several others escaped.
“The operation was intelligence-driven, premised on actionable information obtained from the confessional statement of a high-ranking IPOB/ESN commander, Ebube Uchenna Mmaduakolam, also known as ‘Ebube Virus’,” he said.
“Three suspects were apprehended at the scene and are currently in lawful custody, providing the Force with critical information pertaining to the group’s logistics networks, personnel structure, and planned operations.”
Okoye stated that items recovered from the camp included two general-purpose machine guns, 3,115 rounds of GPMG ammunition, one AK-47 rifle, one pump-action shotgun, several surveillance drones, and Biafra currency in different denominations.
He also revealed that the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, praised the operatives for their bravery, professionalism and tactical execution during the operation.
According to the statement, the IGP said the seizure of the weapons and ammunition had greatly reduced the operational strength of the IPOB/ESN network in the south-east and dealt a significant blow to its activities in the region.