Police arrest four IPOB members over attack on Imo station

Four members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network, (IPOB/ESN), have been arrested by men of the Imo State Police Command on Sunday.

The suspects were arrested over the attack on Mbieri Police Station on Friday.

The hoodlums had thrown Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) into the building, shattering the roof, windows and doors.

The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Mike Abattam, said in a statement that after the diligent gathering of credible intelligence, they arrested Solomon Umunakwu and Uzoma Umunakwe both natives of Mbieri in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State.

It was gathered that they are escapees from the custodial centre’s attack in Imo on 5th April 2021.

The Police also arrested Kelechi Onuoma (aka Ikaba) and kelvin Onuoma (aka Alabalaba) both natives of Atta in Njaba LGA of Imo State, who, in company with their gang members, led the foiled attack on Mbieri Police Station.

The statement said, “The Command’s tactical teams on the same day of the incident at about 2.50 pm, mobilised and stormed the house of Solomon Umunakwu in Mbieri.

“The hoodlums on sighting the police operatives took to their heels abandoning their two operational vehicles used during the foiled attack, a Blue Colour Toyota Corolla LE with registration number ABC 695 HA and one Ash colour Acura MDX SUV vehicle with registration number RRT 149 AG respectively.

“Following the recovery of the vehicles, the police operatives then moved to the hideouts of other gang members in Atta in Njaba LGA of Imo state.

“On searching the hideouts, the following items were recovered; three locally made pistols, one cut to size gun, one Beretta pistol number NAF-P 3296, one dagger, four rounds of live cartridges, two police belts, one Eastern Security Network uniform, one black beret, one army camouflage scarf, two big sacks of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp and one iron saw blade.”

He said that the police operatives are on a manhunt for other fleeing hoodlums.