A 26-year-old alleged army
deserter, Ebeje Nnamdi, suspected to be the trainer of members of Indigenous
People of Biafra (IPOB), has been arrested by Police in Anambra.
Nnamdi was arrested
alongside three others for their alleged involvement in armed robbery in Iyi
Oji area of Anambra on Wednesday.
Nnamdi Kanu and Biafra
Secret Service
The Police Commissioner in
the state, Mr Garba Umar, presented the suspects to newsmen on Thursday at the
police command headquarters in Amawbia, near Awka.
The police also arrested 22
suspected cult members who were allegedly conducting their initiation ceremony
in a bush.
Umar said the police
recovered 336 rounds of 7.22x39mm, AK-47 live ammunition from the alleged
(IPOB) members and their trainer.
“Police equally recovered
three empty AK-47 riffles with magazines, one locally made double barrel pistol
with two live cartridges, (IPOB) wears, IPOB flags, muffler, criminal charms
and ATM cards.
“The Army deserter was
formally of the 20 Mechanised Battalion, Taraba, in 2014 before he
disappeared,’’ Umar said.
The commissioner said Nnamdi became a member of a
six-man gang responsible for the attacks and killings of policemen at nipping
points, robberies at fuel stations including that of Bukachi filling station,
Eziowelle, both in Onitsha on Aug. 31, 2017.
Others who were arrested
alongside Nnamdi were 26-year-old Onyebuchi Peter Ali and Ugwuokpe Nnaemeka, he
said.
Umar said their case was
under investigation and that they would be charged to court after
investigation.
He also said that two
members of a four-man gang of kidnappers were arrested, while one was killed in
a gun battle with members of the state anti robbery squad (SARS), while the
victim was rescued.
He said the alleged
kidnapers were said to have abducted one John Ifediorah of Umuganagu village to
Iyi Oji shrine, where he was said to have been subjected to torture before the
police swooped on them.
Those arrested during the
raid, he said, were Chukwudi Nwabundo and Obiora Madubueze, while Chinaza
Udeezue was killed during the gun battle in the Aguleri bush.
The commissioner further
said that the 22 cultists were apprehended at their initiation centre at Nnewi
when the police teams from the Special Anti-Cultism (SPAC) cordoned off the
place.
Umar said the suspects were
members of Junior Vikings confraternity (JVC), Ayees, Aro, 2-2, Bagger, Baby
Ayees and black axe and were of between the ages of 16 and 25.
Some of the items recovered
from them included one locally made revolver pistol with one live ammunition;
one locally made pistol gun with three live cartridges; daggers; three short
axes; three machetes; one black turban belonging to Aro; muffler and black
berets.
“The Anambra State Police
command has continued to deliver on its mandate of protecting the lives and
property of the people of the State.
“The command has been
achieving results in the fight against crime due to the cooperation of
well-meaning people in the state. We solicit that such synergy should be
sustained.
“I wish to reiterate the
readiness of the command to continue partnering with other security agencies
and law abiding citizens of the state to eliminate all forms of crime and
criminalities.
“I wish to advise parents
to take care of their children/wards so as to reduce cult activities in the
society,’’ Umar said.
The commissioner advised
the people of the state to always report to the police or other security
agencies any suspicious movement for urgent intervention.
NAN
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