By Mick Oseji, Asaba
The Anambra State Police Command has announced the recovery of sophisticated weapons, including rocket launchers, a machine gun, ammunition, and explosive devices, during a raid on a camp allegedly linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Owerre-Ezukala, Orumba South Local Government Area of the state.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, saying the operation was executed by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police’s Violent Crime Response Unit.
According to him, the raid was led by the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, under the command of Chief Superintendent of Police, Orebe Chidubem Mathew.
Ikenga explained that the operation followed intelligence obtained from a suspect already in police custody, identified as 37-year-old Nnamdi Nkemdilim Ogbonna, who was described as “allegedly one of the top commanders of the proscribed secessionist group.”
He listed the items recovered during the operation to include “one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) with about 2,000 rounds of live chain ammunition, two fabricated rocket launchers with 25 propellers, 10 locally made Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), one locally made Beretta pistol, two pump-action guns, three hand grenades, 10 rounds of K2 live ammunition, one gas cylinder, and one black Ecolac box.”
The police spokesperson said the camp had previously been dismantled by a joint security operation, but intelligence reports suggested that some fleeing members were attempting to regroup before the latest offensive.
“Before the confession by the suspect in custody, intelligence was received over time on how some escaped gang members were attempting to regroup, but met a great resistance and destruction in the camp from the operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit following a gun duel against the unrepentant members,” Ikenga stated.
He added that several armed suspects escaped during the exchange of gunfire but were believed to have sustained varying degrees of bullet injuries.
The police further alleged that the suspect confessed to participating in multiple violent attacks across Anambra State, including assaults on security formations and the killing of security personnel.
“Further information reveals that the suspect admitted involvement in several violent attacks within Anambra State, including attacks on Police facilities, the killing of security personnel comprising Police, Military, and Civil Defence officers, attacks on government facilities, and the murder of security operatives on stop-and-search duties on various roads within the State,” the statement added.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, said the establishment of the Violent Crime Response Unit had strengthened the command’s crackdown on criminal activities.
According to him, the operatives are now “more disposed and motivated to sustain the offensive operations against all criminal elements threatening the peace and security of the state.”
