The Imo State Police Command says it has arrested three suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Henry Okoye, the command’s spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, noting that operatives recovered more than 3,115 rounds of ammunition and surveillance drones from the suspects’ camp.
Okoye said the operation took place on Saturday, when police operatives stormed a hideout in Nguru Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
He explained that a gun battle ensued during the raid, leading to the arrest of three suspects, while others fled the scene.
According to him, the operation was intelligence-driven and followed actionable information obtained from the confessional statement of a high-ranking IPOB/ESN commander, Ebube Uchenna Mmaduakolam, also known as ‘Ebube Virus’.
He added that the arrested suspects are currently in custody and are providing useful information on the group’s logistics, structure, and planned operations.
A 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 Biafran currency in different denominations.
Okoye further stated that the inspector-general of police, Tunji Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism, bravery, and tactical precision.
He noted that the IGP said the seizure of the weapons and ammunition has significantly weakened the operational capacity of the IPOB/ESN network in the South-East and dealt a major blow to its activities in the region.