Imo State Police Command yesterday paraded 17 suspects in connection with various crimes including terrorism, kidnapping and armed robbery.
Also, the killers of a Divisional Police Officer, DPOs, and five police officers were among those paraded.
Briefing newsmen at the Command Headquarters in Owerri, the police spokesman, Henry Okoye said the suspects were arrested in different parts of the state, including Nkwesi in Oguta Local Government Area, Umuogu Amuzu in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area and Irete in Owerri West Local Government Area.
The police recovered various exhibits from the suspects including two pump action guns, one single barrel gun, two locally made pistols, 25 rounds of live cartridges, various denominations of Biafran currencies, one live tortoise, one live crocodile and various criminal charms.
Some of the suspects arrested include Okechukwu Olumba, 45, of Ezi Isu in Isu Local Government Area; Olumba Chukwuemeka, 21, of the same address; Arinze Olumba, 23, of the same address; Bernard Okorie, 40, of Mgbelle in Oguta Local Government Area; Emmanuel Okechukwu, 45, of Ochi Ogwa in Mbaitoli Local Government Area; and Ewurum Chigozie, 40, of Amandugba in Isu Local Government Area.
The police also arrested Oluomachi Iheanacho, 28, of Amato Umulolo Amuzu in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, in connection with the murder of the DPO in charge of Ahiazu Mbaise, SP Magnus Abalu, and Inspector Ikechukwu Nwanchor on November 27, 2023.
The police spokesman said Iheanacho and other suspects were arrested after a raid on a terrorist camp in Umuogu Amuzu, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area.
He said the police recovered various exhibits from the suspects, including three pump action guns, 12 rounds of live cartridges and various criminal charms.
Other suspects include Chisom Samuel, 37, of Umuogu Amuzu in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area; and Linus Odoemenam, 42, of Amato Umulolo Amuzu in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area.
The police also confirmed that the suspects were responsible for the murder of five police officers attached to Oke-Uvuru Police Division at Okpala Junction, Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area, and three personnel of the Police Counter Terrorism Unit, CTU, at Imo River Nipping Point at Ngor/Okpala Local Government Area.
The command’s spokesperson praised the efforts of the police team and urged citizens to continue providing information to help combat crime.
