Imo police arrest 26 suspected IPOB sit-at-home enforcers
The operatives of the Imo State Police Command have arrested 26 suspected members of the proscribed Independent People of Biafra who were alleged to be sit-at-home enforcers.
The suspects were said to have engaged in random shooting and attacking people celebrating a birthday in a hotel near Irete on Wednesday.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ahmed Barde, while speaking with newsmen in Owerri, disclosed that the operatives of the command’s tactical team, working in collaboration with operatives of the 18 Police Mobile Force, were quickly mobilised to the scene after civic-minded residents reported seeing IPOB members in a hotel, name withheld, at Catering bus stop, Free Zone, Irete.
The Commissioner of Police said, “Unfortunately, a lifeless body, later identified as Remigius Emeka Njoku, a relative to the celebrant, was seen lying on the floor in his pool of blood. The outlawed IPOB and ESN unlawful sit-at-home enforcers immediately opened fire on sighting police operatives, but they were overwhelmed by the dexterity, stiff resistance, and superior firepower of the police, which forced them to flee to the adjourning bush with various degrees of gunshot injuries.”
He stated further that, “On combing the hotel and nearby bush, traces of blood were seen, which suggested that some of these terrorists were hit.
“During the search around the hotel, one AK-47 rifle, 48 rounds of live ammunition, four pump-action guns, 18 rounds of live cartridges, two AK-47 magazines, and a face mask were recovered. A total of 26 suspects were arrested; they are still undergoing thorough screening.”
The police boss added that “investigation is ongoing, and certainly the suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of a diligent investigation.”
