Richard Ginika Izuora
Sixteen people have been arrested by the Police for complicity in a series of violent and unprovoked attacks on security operatives and facilities” across the country.
The attacks had cured recently especially in the South-east region according to Police Spokesman, Frank Mba.
Several Police officers have been killed lately in a string of attacks by gunmen, mostly around Nigeria’s South-east and South-south regions.
Police stations are often the target of the attacks, which appeared coordinated. The gunmen would raid the armoury, cart away Police rifles, and then set the stations on fire, during the attacks. Security vehicles on patrol have also been targeted by gunmen.
Mba stated that the arrest was “an outcome of painstaking, deliberate and tireless” collaborative effort between the Police, the Army and the Nigerian Airforce.
He named the suspects as Ugochukwu Samuel, otherwise known as Biggy, 28, from Arochukwu Local Government Area, Abia State; Raphael Idang, 31, from Odukpani Local Government Area, Cross River State; Cletus Egole, otherwise known as Alewa, 60, from Orlu in Imo State; and Michael Uba, 33, from Imo State.
“Twelve others, in the course of investigation, were implicated in multiple felonies; committed across several states in the South-Eastern part of the Federation.
“The suspects were arrested in various parts of the country following sustained; and intelligence-driven sting operations.
“Investigations clearly established and linked the suspects to several incidents of attacks; and murder of security personnel as well as stealing; unlawful possession of firearms; arson and malicious damage to operational assets of military and law enforcement agents,” Mba said.
He said, “Specifically, investigations revealed that the duo of Ugochukwu Samuel, aka Biggy, and Raphael Idang were among the criminal elements that attacked policemen on duty at a checkpoint on 24th December, 2020; along Orlu-Ihiala Road in Imo State where two police officers were killed; and a Police Hilux patrol van set ablaze.
“In addition, both were part of a larger group that attacked a police reconnaissance team on 13th January, 2021; killing one police officer. Ugochukwu Samuel a.k.a Biggy, who sustained a bullet wound; during an attack by his gang on a military convoy in which some soldiers were killed and weapons carted away, was subsequently arrested while receiving treatment in a hospital. Both suspects confessed to being active members of IPOB and ESN.”
The spokesman said two of the suspects, said to be a pastor and a prophet, were the masterminds behind some of the attacks.
Items recovered from them include nine AK47 rifles, five other sophisticated firearms, 17 AK47 magazines, 549 AK47 live ammunition; 10 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), camouflage bullet proof vests, walkie talkies and other incriminating items from the suspects.