Police arrests a soldier who trains IPOB members

A 26-year-old army deserter, Ebeje Nnamdi, suspected to be the trainer of members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been arrested by Police in Anambra.

Nnamdi was arrested alongside three others for their alleged involvement in armed robbery in Iyi Oji area of Anambra.

Police Commissioner, Garba Umar, paraded the suspects on Thursday at the police command headquarters in Amawbia, near Awka.

The police also arrested 22 suspected cult members who were allegedly conducting their initiation ceremony in a bush.

Umar said the police recovered 336 rounds of 7.22x39mm, AK-47 live ammunition from the alleged (IPOB) members and their trainer.

“Police equally recovered three empty AK-47 riffles with magazines, one locally made double barrel pistol with two live cartridges, (IPOB) wears, IPOB flags, muffler, criminal charms and ATM cards.

“The Army deserter was formally of the 20 Mechanised Battalion, Taraba, in 2014 before he disappeared,’’ Umar said.

The commissioner said Nnamdi became a member of a six-man gang responsible for the attacks and killings of policemen at nipping points, robberies at fuel stations including that of Bukachi filling station, Eziowelle, both in Onitsha on August 31, 2017.

Others who were arrested alongside Nnamdi were 26-year-old Onyebuchi Peter Ali and Ugwuokpe Nnaemeka, he said.

“The Anambra State Police command has continued to deliver on its mandate of protecting the lives and property of the people of the State.

“The command has been achieving results in the fight against crime due to the cooperation of well meaning people in the state. We solicit that such synergy should be sustained.

“I wish to reiterate the readiness of the command to continue partnering with other security agencies and law abiding citizens of the state to eliminate all forms of crime and criminalities.

“I wish to advise parents to take care of their children/wards so as to reduce cult activities in the society,’’ Umar said.