Uzoamaka Ugoanyanwu, a suspected notorious native doctor who allegedly prepares charms for members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and members of the Eastern Security Network has been arrested by men of the Imo State Police Command.
The Commissioner of Police in Imo, Mr Abutu Yaro, confirmed the arrest of the 40-year-old Ugoanyanwu in a statement signed by the command’s spokesman, SP Bala Alkana.
The CP said the police also arrested nine suspects who took part in the attack on the country home of Governor Hope Uzodimma recently.
Yaro said the breakthrough followed a painstaking investigation carried out by the command’s tactical units and urged criminal elements who are still in possession of Police arms to willingly return them.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that police, with the support of the military, foiled a deadly attack on the Police headquarters on Sunday and killed five members of the ESN.
They also invaded ESN camp on Monday in Ikeduru council area, dislodged the camp and rescued a female police officer held captive.
“In consonance with the mandate given to the operatives of the command by IGP Alkali Usman to fish out all criminal elements in the state and restore normalcy, we have declared war on criminal elements.
“On June 8, at about 16:30 hours, tactical teams of the command, through diligent and painstaking investigations, stormed Ukwuorji, Mbaitoli Local Government Council Area, along Onitsha Road and arrested one Ezeugo Ordu, a native of Ubachima, Omuma, Oru West LGA.
“He confessed to being a member of IPOB/ESN and made useful statements to the Police as regards the recent attacks on Police stations as well as the residence of Governor Uzodinma.
“He further led operatives of the command to the IPOB/ESN camp, a bush close to Njaba River. Nine persons were arrested at the criminal hideout while planning another attack, assorted charms were recovered from them.
“However, two out of the nine arrested in the hideout, Chinedu Nwakaire and Uzoamaka Ugoanyawu, the native doctor, were identified to be part of the hoodlums that attacked the private residence of the governor recently,” he said.
Furthermore, the CP reiterated the call on members of the IPOB/ESN, or any other criminal syndicate operating in the state, especially those who stole police arms and ammunitions to voluntarily surrender themselves to enable them get a soft landing.
