The Imo State Police Command, on Sunday, disclosed that it had arrested the killers of the Divisional Police Officer of the Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of the state.
Some gunmen had last Monday killed the DPO, an Inspector of police and a civilian in an attack at Ahiara.
Briefing journalists at the command headquarters, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Danjuma Aboki, said the arrest of the suspects followed a coordinated operation by the operatives of the command.
The CP said, “Following the murder of DPO Ahiazu Mbaise and an Inspector of Police on 27/11/2023, at Ahiara Junction in Ahiazu Mbaise by disgruntled elements suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed militia, Eastern Security Network, and the subsequent confessions of suspects arrested at the scene by police operatives in synergy with the military, operatives of the anti-kidnapping unit on 29/11/2023 stormed the camp of the criminal syndicate at Umuohie in the Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State, dislodged the terrorists, recovered two automatic pump-action riffles and six rounds of life cartridges.
“The determined operatives continued their operation in search of the fleeing terrorists, storming Igbodo-Etche in Rivers State through a technical intelligence tracking device wherein a native doctor, named Everest Agbaragam, ‘m’, 62 years, of Umuoma, Igbodo, Etche Rivers State AKA Mount Everest, was arrested.
“On searching his shrine, one pump-action gun loaded with 12 rounds of live cartridges, one big bag containing various denominations of Biafran currencies, one live crocodile, and fetish items were recovered.
“On interrogation, he confessed to being a member of IPOB/ESN. He stated that he usually prepares local bulletproof charms, popular known as ‘Odeshi’, for his cohorts before they embark on any operation. He provided useful information to the gallant operatives in storming Umuogwu Forest in the Aboh Mbaise LGA on 1/12/23.
“The terrorists, on sighting the police, engaged them in a gun battle but were subdued by the combat-ready operatives who professionally manoeuvered into vintage position and returned fire. In the ensuing gun duel, some of them were neutralised while others escaped into the thick forest with bullet wounds.
“The terrorist camp was dislodged and the following exhibits were recovered: Five (AK-47 riffles; six magazines containing 220 rounds of live ammunition; six pump-action guns; 121 rounds of live cartridges; one Revolver; four locally-made pistols; three Toyota Venza cars, including the one they used in attacking the DPO, one Toyota Highlander SUV, and IEDs.
“An intense manhunt is ongoing to track down other fleeing suspects. They will be arraigned in court upon completion of a comprehensive investigation.”
The CP said the state police command under his leadership had continued to intensify its effort to provide maximum security for the people of the state as the state had been relatively peaceful.
