Imo police arrest 26 members of Ipob and ESN after they attack police stations in Omuma and Njaba

MEN of the Imo State Police Command have arrested 26 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) after they attacked police stations in Omuma and Njaba.

Created as the military wing of secessionist group Ipob, the ESN has taken on the responsibility of confronting armed Fulani herdsmen across the southeast geo-political zone. Of late, however, it has been accused of acts of bringandry, including attacking correctional facilities, burning down offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission and raiding police stations, carting away weapons.

Earlier this week, the two police stations were attacked and the security immediately swung into action, picking up suspects. Emmanuel Nnaji, a native of Awala in Ideato South Local Government Area, who is believed to have sustained bullet wounds during the raid was the first to be nabbed.

Under interrogation, Mr Nnaji revealed that the plot was hatched at a hotel in Orlu where the ESN gather to plan their assault against government facilities. He further revealed that the hotel owner has been accommodating and assisted them financially.

More shockingly, Mr Nnaji mentioned that the head of a young man was severed and placed on the road close to the premises. After volunteering this information, Mr Nnaji led the police to the location, where they quickly rounded up 26 suspects, 19 males and seven females, recovering weapons from them.

Among the weapons recovered were one AK-47 rifle with two magazines loaded with 55 rounds of live ammunition, five pump action guns, two double barrel cut-to-size guns and four double barrel locally-made pistols. Also found during the raid were three single barrel locally made pistols, eight live cartridges, charms, two bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, Biafran flags and berets, ESN caps, four pairs of army camouflage uniforms and a camouflage bag.