December 16, (THEWILL) – Operatives of the Ebonyi State Police Command, on Wednesday, raided a suspected IPOB/ESN camp, killed two members and arrested their commander, Sunday Ubah, a.k.a Bongo.
The Command, in a statement issued Thursday, by its Spokesperson, SP Chris Anyanwu, described the camp as one of the biggest and most notorious camps of the separatist group, located at Obegu, a boundary area between Onicha-Isu and Ishielu LGAs of the state.
Anyanwu said some operatives of the command sustained bullet wounds during exchange of gunfire with the hoodlums.
“During the gun duel that ensued while the hoodlums were tracked down and pursued along Agba-Isu road on Wednesday, 14/12/2022, a couple of police operatives sustained minor bullet injuries, while two of the hoodlums were neutralised, one (the commander) apprehended, while others escaped with various degrees of bullet injuries”, he said.
Anyanwu said the invasion of the suspected IPOB/ ESN den was necessitated by an earlier encounter between operatives of the Command’s Tactical Teams, sequel to a credible information gathered that the hoodlums were operating/wreaking havoc in the state with a Toyota Sienna space bus, which they robbed at gun point from the owner within Ishielu axis.
He said the operatives also uncovered the “biggest bomb factory in the South-East, adding that “Bomb expert in the command described it as a complete bomb factory – the biggest in the South-East and that each of the hand grenades (first of its kind) is capable of causing colossal damage to buildings and mass killing of humans.”
Anyanwu said IPOB/ESN factional commander, Sunday Ubah, was arrested through a quick trail and joint effort with a team of detectives attached to Ohaukwu Division.
“The miscreant, who gave revealing pieces of information about the activities and modus operandi of the criminals, initially claimed that he is their PRO and native of Umunnochi in Isuikwuato LGA, Abia State.
“However, a scrupulous investigation aided by his antecedents/profile with the police command proved that he is a native of Obegu, Onicha LGA of Ebonyi State and indeed the factional commander of the outfit in Obegu.
“As a follow-up, a joint team of the Command’s Tactical Teams, the military and DSS, armed with credible information courtesy of the suspect, swooped on the houses/residences of the commander and others. Search warrants executed and the following massive incriminating exhibits recovered:
“Thirty (30) pieces of IEDs using safety fuses primed in non-electric initiator/detonator; sixty-three (63) wraps of super power 90mm gelatin; two (02) solar prime 90mm gelatin; sixteen (16) danger 90 gelatin; twenty (20) ideal power 90 gelatin 50mm; two hundred and thirty-nine (239) pieces of plain non-electric detonators; fourteen (14) pieces of primed nonels; ninety-nine (99) pieces of one-inch safety fuses; one complete roll of safety fuse.
“Others are insignia of Biafra agitation: two proscribed Biafran flags, silver-coated daggers, assorted fetish substances, charms, manual welding/fabricating cylinder, etc.
“Police/military equipment/accoutrements: four long-range riot gunners; 124 smoke cartridges; four police uniforms belonging to slain policemen, assorted military/ police boots, and military camouflage uniforms, etc.
“Sundry other exhibits: a defaced/hand-painted Toyota Sienna space bus, first-aid box, bag containing foodstuff, improvised solar panels, CCTV gadgets, etc.”
Anyanwu said the arrested suspect is helping the detectives of the command in further investigation.
The police command reassured the citizens of its resolve to stem the tide of insecurity posed by the criminal elements especially during the Christmas/New Year celebrations.
