The Nigeria police force say they have arrested 16 suspects
linked with the recent killing of police officers in parts of the south-east.
Frank Mba, police spokesperson, said on Sunday that among
those arrested are two members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as
well as a pastor in Imo state.
At least 14 police officers were
killed in the south-east in the last three months.
The media reports studied showed the officers were killed
during 11 different attacks, a steep rise in such targeted assault against the
security agency.
In a statement, Mba said the police
arrested the 16 after investigations “clearly established and linked the
suspects to several incidents of attacks and murder of security personnel.”
“The suspects – Ugochukwu Samuel a.k.a Biggy, a 28-year-old
native of Arochukwu LGA in Abia State; Raphael Idang, 31-year-old native of
Odukpani LGA of Cross River state; Cletus Nwachukwu Egole aka ‘Alewa’,
60-years-old native of Orlu in Imo State; Michael Uba, 33yrs from Imo State;
and twelve (12) others in the course of investigation, were implicated in
multiple felonies committed across several states in the South-Eastern part of
the Federation,” the statement read.
“A total of nine (9) AK47 rifles, five (5) other
sophisticated firearms, seventeen (17) AK47 Magazines, 549 AK47 live
ammunition, 10 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), camouflage bullet proof
vests, walkie talkies and other incriminating items were recovered from the
suspects.”
The police said Samuel and Idang were among two groups that
killed three police officers during separate attacks in December and January.
“Both suspects confessed to being active members of IPOB and
ESN,” it added.
Also arrested were Cletus Egole identified as a pastor with
the Holy Blessed Trinity Sabbath Church in Imo state as well as Michael Uba, a
prophet with the Association of Jewish Faith.
They were identified as being among the masterminds of the
various attacks on security personnel “in addition to providing spiritual cover
for the gang.”
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