A 40-year-old man, Uzoamaka Ugoanyanwu known to be a notorious native doctor has been arrested by the Police in Imo State for allegedly preparing charms for members of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB and members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The arrest was confirmed in a statement by the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Imo State, Mr Abutu Yaro and 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 Gov. Hope Uzodimma.
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.
“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 to the state, we have declared war on criminal elements.
“On June 8, at about 1630 hrs, tactical teams of the command through diligent and painstaking investigations, stormed Ukwuorji, Mbaitoli Local Government 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 to the recent attacks on Police stations as well as the residence of Gov. Uzodimma.
“He further led operatives of the command to the IPOB/ESN camp, a bush close to Njaba River, 9 persons were arrested at the criminal hideout while planning another attack, assorted charms were recovered from them.
“However, two out of the 9 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”.