Imo Police Command Cracks Down on alleged IPOB/ESN, Kidnap Syndicates other criminal elements.
By Kelechi Ugo
The Imo State Police Command has announced significant breakthroughs in its fight against violent crime and organized criminal groups across the state, including the arrest of over 2,700 suspects, the rescue of dozens of victims, and the recovery of a cache of illegal arms and explosives.
According to a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Okoye Henry, the achievements stem from a sustained and coordinated offensive led by Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, over the past six months. The operations targeted various criminal elements, including kidnappers, cultists, child traffickers, and suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
A total of 2,785 suspects were apprehended for offences ranging from kidnapping, terrorism, and murder to armed robbery, cultism, and child trafficking. The Police also successfully rescued 58 kidnapped victims and 42 stolen children, many of whom have since been reunited with their families.
The Police recovered a large cache of weaponry during various operations, including:
2 General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)
14 AK-47 rifles
20 pump-action shotguns
4 fabricated rocket launchers
7 gas-cylinder-based explosives
Locally-made hand grenades
Hundreds of live ammunition rounds
Criminal charms and Biafran flags
Four alleged IPOB/ESN operatives were arrested in Njaba Local Government Area following a tactical raid on their hideout. The suspects — Amechi Onyebuchi (38), Ozioma Ihedoro (39), Cyprian Ikpegbunam (50), and Uchenna Opara (30) — are accused of carrying out coordinated attacks on security installations and public infrastructure.
The suspects reportedly confessed to the kidnap and murder of one Emmanuel Oguzie, allegedly carried out under the instruction of a fugitive ESN commander identified as "Asari."
In another operation, Police arrested Uche Nwachukwu (24) and Chinonso Ozirim (32) for the abduction of Anayo Iwuoha on June 20, 2025. The victim was held in Ozirim’s residence, where the syndicate reportedly extorted ₦2.2 million in ransom.
Following a joint rescue operation by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and local vigilante groups, Iwuoha was freed and the suspects were taken into custody. A manhunt is currently underway for their fleeing accomplices.
Police also arrested Wisdom Chinazaekpere Ogbonna (36), a suspected member of the Viking Confraternity, who had been on the run for two years. Ogbonna is accused of participating in the murder of a young man identified as “Pikin”, who was reportedly mistaken for a rival cult member.
Initially arrested for burglary, further investigations linked Ogbonna to the earlier cult-related killing. He is currently in custody pending further investigation.
The Police commended the residents of Imo State for their cooperation and intelligence support, which played a vital role in recent successes.
"The Command remains committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state," DSP Okoye Henry stated. "We urge the public to stay alert and report any suspicious activity through our emergency lines: 0813 478 3532 or 0815 802 4755."
