Police arrest seven ‘IPOB members’ over killing of inspector, recover weapons in Imo

According to a statement issued on Wednesday, Michael Abattam, police spokesperson in Imo, said Nwagbara, a policewoman with the rank of inspector, was declared missing in 2017.

Abattam said the suspects — Casmire Mgbugha, 53; Hycent Chimezie, 30; Hycent Azunna, 28; Hycent Ifesinachi, 26; Hycent Chimobi, 23; Chukwuemeka Wisdom, 22; and Nnadike Clifford, 72; all males — were arrested when officers raided their camp in Agwa, Oguta LGA of the state.

“Sequel to the receipt of credible information that the native doctor who prepares charms for fortifications against bullets and knives for members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) for the attack and killing of a police officer in Agwa Community has returned after fleeing the community,” the statement reads.

“The Command’s Tactical Teams, on 18/5/2022 at about 0600 hours hastily mobilised and with the positive revelations made in course of interrogating the suspects earlier arrested in connection with the killing, the team was able to locate the criminal hideout in Ubah Agwa in Oguta LGA of Imo State and immediately cordoned area and tactical went into the den.

“The hoodlums on sighting the police operatives, attempted to escape only to discover that the whole escape routes have been saturated with police operatives hence, they were arrested.

“Amazingly, while coming out of the terror camp, one of the suspects, Hycent Chimezie for the second time, attempted escaping and was maimed on the leg.

“In the course of interrogation, the suspects confessed to have murdered late Inspector Felicia Nwagbara, who was the second wife to one of the suspects — Casmire Mgbugba. They further stated that they are the manufacturers of the locally made guns recovered from them apart from using them in perpetrating crimes, they sell to robbers and kidnappers.”

The police spokesperson added that the weapons recovered from the suspects include a Toyota Camry with registration number AKD 73 BF LAGOS, live Python, eight locally-made pistols, 18 rounds of live cartridges, Biafran flag and “a pair of police camouflage uniform belonging to the late Inspector Felicia Nwagbara ‘f’ who has been declared missing since 2017 by police authorities”.