Police arrest prime suspect over killing of two officers in Imo

Imo Police Command has arrested a key suspect in the deadly November 2023 attack that claimed the lives of a Divisional Police Officer and an Inspector of Police.

The prime suspect, believed to be a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is reported to have been the driver of the operation vehicle during the heinous act.

The accused was arrested on Monday after a fierce gunfight at their hideout at Amauze in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of the State.

Making this known in a statement on Tuesday, Henry Okoye, the Command spokesman, said the suspect, one Chidebere Nwuzor (38), was arrested on April 8 after a fierce gunfight with the police operatives.

The police spokesman said the suspect sustained a gunshot injury on his right leg that forced him to surrender.

Oloke said the accused has been on the Command’s wanted list due to a series of terrorist activities he perpetrated in the state alongside his criminal cohorts.

“He was arrested on 8/04/2024, in his criminal hideout at Umuogu, Amauze in Aboh Mbaise after a fierce gunfight with the ever-gallant operatives, which forced him to surrender after sustaining gunshot injuries on his right leg.

“Items recovered from the suspect include one pump action gun with six rounds of live cartridges, one Barrera Pistol loaded with two rounds of live ammunition, and other incriminating teams.”

“The suspect confessed to being a member of a deadly IPOB/ESN syndicate responsible for enforcing unlawfully imposed sit-at-home orders by the outlaw group and unleashing mayhem on unsuspecting citizens in the State,” he said.

He said, “The suspect confessed that he was recruited into the deadly terrorist group by Ebube Virus and Ishaka, who were earlier neutralized by the operatives in December 2023, and admitted that he drove the operation vehicle that was used in the attack that led to the killing of DPO Ahaizu Mbaise and Inspector of Police in November 2023.”