The Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force in Ebonyi state have neutralized some members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The members of the outlawed group lost their lives when the military joint force stormed their hideout in two separate areas in the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Chris Anyanwu, said this in a statement issued on Sunday.
According to him, three IPOB suspects already in their net provided the evidence to the command, which aided the security agencies’ storm of three hideouts of the gang in the state.
He said, “The operation, spearheaded by the Command’s Tactical teams and assisted by the Military and DSS in the State, was prompted by quantum pieces of reliable evidence, professionally elicited from the interrogation of Nnamdi Ngwuta Obaji aka State Commander No. 3 and another operative of the outlawed group, Felix Ogudu who were earlier arrested.
“While accessing/cordoning the Camps, the combined teams were ambushed by the criminal elements with rains of sporadic shooting in their direction and without hesitation, the allied team swiftly responded and engaged them in the same manner and of course, their superior firepower subdued the miscreants, who chanted morale-boasting war songs, dived into the Opeke River and swarm to different directions as they scampered for safety.
“However, a good number of them were neutralized while many escaped with bullet injuries. Also, after dislodging the criminal elements and taking over the ground, the camp, which they christened ‘IGBO BU IGBO TRAINING SCHOOL CAMP’, was ransacked and destroyed. Equally, a wooden bridge under construction intended to aid the miscreants in their coming and going was dismantled.
“Items recovered from the gang were 11 bullet-proof jackets, eight sets of Military camouflage uniforms, two camp-gas cookers, 110 rounds of FNC live ammunition, 40 rounds of GPMG live ammunition, and two PRO electronics scanners (EOD equipment).
“Other items include five empty canons, five single-barrel guns, nine assorted GSM handsets, three locally-fabricated revolver pistols, one white Toyota Hilux vehicle, a bunch of keys, three NIN slips bearing different names, one exercise book with coded names/GSM numbers of the suspects, one voter’s card, three hammers, two assault rifle butts, 25 camping mosquito nets, and fetish substances suspected to be charms.
“Also, one Mercedes Benz 190 car with Reg No. SKA 306 AA, one Biafran-map calendar and other things, were recovered. However, a good number of them were neutralized.”
Anyanwu further noted that the gang was also be suspected to have partaken in the attack of the Provost of Federal College of Education, Isu Onicha along Agba axis a few days ago.
He added, “The Commissioner of Police, therefore, implores the good citizens of Ebonyi State to assist the Command as always, with credible and reliable information that will help to arrest the hoodlums in order to rid the State of heinous crimes, especially during the fast approaching Christmas/New Year celebrations as well as the Electioneering period.
“Again, the CP further advises that political gladiators should eschew the practice of hiring thugs or paid-in criminals before, during and after the 2023 elections. They must be mindful of the new Electoral Act 2022, as well as the fact that the Law is a no respecter of anyone.
“Be rest assured that the tempo to fight crime and criminality in the State with the synergy of the Military, DSS and other sister agencies has been tuned to a higher frequency.”
