The Imo State Police Command has announced the arrest of three suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), during a tactical operation in the state.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, disclosed that operatives of the command recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition and surveillance equipment from the group’s hideout located in Nguru Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
According to Okoye, the operation was carried out on Saturday following credible intelligence obtained from the confessional statement of a suspected top IPOB/ESN commander identified as Ebube Uchenna Mmaduakolam, popularly known as “Ebube Virus.”
He explained that police operatives stormed the camp in a coordinated raid, leading to a fierce gun duel between security personnel and the suspected militants.
The police spokesperson said three suspects were successfully apprehended during the exchange, while several others reportedly escaped into nearby bushes.
“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’,” the statement read.
He added that the arrested suspects are currently in police custody and are assisting investigators with useful information concerning the group’s operational structure, logistics network and planned activities.
Okoye further stated that a thorough search of the camp led to the recovery of two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), 3,115 rounds of GPMG ammunition, one AK-47 rifle, a pump-action shotgun, several surveillance drones and Biafra currency in different denominations.
The command described the seizure as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks and restore security across the South-East region.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, commended the operatives involved in the raid for what he described as their courage, professionalism and tactical efficiency during the operation.
According to the statement, the IGP noted that the recovery of the weapons and ammunition had significantly weakened the operational capability of the IPOB/ESN network and dealt a substantial blow to the activities of the group in the region.
The police reiterated their commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations aimed at combating violent crimes, insurgency and other security threats across the country.
