Police arrest ‘wanted IPOB member’ in Imo

The Imo police command says it arrested one Uchenna Chukwu, a suspected kingpin of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

In a statement, Mike Abattam, the police spokesman in the state, said the suspect was arrested at Ehime-Mbano LGA of the state.

He said the police also killed an IPOB member who joined other members to frustrate the arrest of the kingpin.

He said Chukwu, aged 34, played a major role in the killing of police officers and burning of police stations in Imo and had long been declared wanted by the police.

He said following credible information, the police went to his shop at Ehime Mbano area to arrest him.

“The suspect raised alarm alerting members of his gang, picked a cutlass and rushed at one of the police operatives and attempted chopping off his head but was overpowered, disarmed and the cutlass recovered,” he said.

“While this was on, the already alerted members who came in their numbers to rescue him engaged the police in a gun duel and in the process, one of them was neutralised while others escaped with bullet wounds.”

He said one locally-made double-barrelled pistol with two expended cartridges; two live cartridges and charms were recovered at the scene.

Abattam also said the suspect is being interrogated and “had made useful statements to the police”.

He said the police were working in synergy with other security agencies to arrest other members of the proscribed group, especially those that escaped with bullet wounds.