Army spokesman, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu said the IPOB leader was arrested during joint clearance operations at a camp suspected to be the fortress of IPOB/ESN elements located at Akpowfu Forest in Nkanu LGA on Saturday, December 25.

During the clearance operation, troops engaged the dissidents in a firefight compelling them to take to their heels, leading to the arrest of their leader.

General Nwachukwu also said the troops recovered various items, including one AK 47 rifle, one magazine containing 21 rounds of 7. 62 mm special, and a mobile phone among others.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has also commended the troops for the successes recorded thus far. Yahaya also charged the troops to comb and clear all suspected hideouts of criminal elements in their area of responsibility.

Onyema Nwachukwu, Army spokesman, said this on Monday, November 1, while briefing journalists on the ongoing military operation in the south-east.

According to him, Chukwunonso Iherue, leader of a gang allegedly behind the attacks on police stations in Imo state, was behind the recent violence in Izombe community of the state.

He said Iherue was one of the convicts who escaped when gunmen attacked Imo prison in April.

In May and August, police stations in Orsu and Oguta LGAs were attacked by gunmen who also killed officers on duty.

Nwachukwu said Iherue and his gang members were seen parading the community, flying the Biafra insignia on October 1, while threatening and instilling fear in the people

He said when the army attempted to arrest him, he escaped with the help of some persons “until he was later neutralised when he engaged the troops with fire from his pistol in a frantic attempt to escape. The group opened fire on troops, killing two soldiers in the process. “Inan effort to avoid civilian casualty and collateral damage in the community, troops tactically withdrew from the area. Unfortunately, the suspected IPOB members ran amok, setting ablaze houses and other property belonging to those perceived to be against them.  A reinforcement team was deployed to Izombe and the security situation was immediately stabilised, while peace has since returned to the community.It was, however, observed on arrival at the community that the criminal gang also burnt troops’ van in addition to other public and private property.”

A statement released by CSP Michael Abattam said the arrest came after officers acted on a piece of credible information that a suspect was sighted at Umuchoke in Ehime Mbano  Local Government Area of Imo. The suspect was said to have been on the command’s wanted list, but on the run after allegedly participating in several killings of officers and burning of police stations.

Abattam said the command’s tactical teams after diligent intelligence gathering, on the 6th of October, 2021 at about 4.30 pm, mobilized and stormed the shop of the hoodlum, who was later identified as Uchenna Chukwu age 34yrs ‘M’ of Umunakanu in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

The statement read “On sighting the police operatives, he raised alarm alerting other members of his gang, picked a cutlass and rushed at one of the police operatives attempted chopping off his head, but was overpowered, disarmed and the cutlass recovered from him. While this was on, the already alerted members who came in their number to rescue him engaged the police operatives in a gun duel, but were overwhelmed by the superior firing power of the police and in the process, one of them was neutralised while others escaped with bullet wounds into hiding. Recovered from the deceased was one locally made double barrel pistol with two expended cartridges, two live cartridges and the charms he tied round his waist to fortify himself against police bullet. The suspect is presently undergoing interrogation and has made a useful statement to the investigating team revealing their hideout and the abode of other members of his gang on the run. Meanwhile, the investigation is in progress and the police operatives are working in synergy with other security agencies to arrest the other members of the terror group especially, those that escaped with bullets injuries.”

The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Hussaini, confirmed this to newsmen in Owerri

He said that credible information by the Imo Command’s intelligence unit revealed that a group suspected to be IPOB/ESN members were seen mobilising to attack police formations and government installations from their camp located at Akata in Oru East LGA of Imo State.

It was learnt that the Commissioner of Police, Hussaini Rabiu, immediately dispatched the command’s Special Forces and tactical teams led by the officer-in-charge of Operation Restore Peace, ACP Evans Shem, to dislodge the group as a proactive measure to nip their planned attack on the bud.

The Police spokesman CSP Michael Abattam, who disclosed these in a statement, said on approaching the camp, the police teams were attacked by the secessionist group.

Abattam said in the battle that ensued, the head of the IPOB/ESN group and others were neutralised.

He said items recovered include three Improvised Explosives Devices (I.E.D), two Pump Action Guns, nine Cartridges, One Locally Made Pistol and One Toyota Highlander SUV vehicle with registration number IMO DFB 535 LC.

According to Abattam, on their way back unknown to police teams, the bandits reinforced and regrouped, using palm tree logs to block the entire exit paths in the bush.

The police spokesman added: “It was at the fourth blockade that the police teams came under heavy attack while removing the fourth palm tree log used in blocking the exit path. The bandits threw petrol bombs and Improvised Explosives Devices (I.E.Ds) at the police vehicles.”

He said that the police teams successfully dislodged the suspected IPOB/ESN group. Several of them were neutralised and others fled into the bush with bullets injuries.

He said: “Unfortunately, one of the police Hilux vehicle was burnt due to the petrol bombs thrown on it.”

Abattam disclosed that three police officers sustained bullet injuries and were rushed to the hospital while one of them died on the way.

The two other officers, according to him, were in stable condition undergoing treatment in a government hospital.