Imo State Police Command has arrested seven suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for the alleged killing of an inspector, Felicia Nwagbara, who was declared missing in 2017.
IPOB Members Arrested In Imo
In a statement on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, the command spokesperson, Micheal Abattam said that the suspects confessed to the murder of Inspector Felicia Nwagbara who was the second wife to one of the suspects – Casmire Mgbugba.
Abattam said the suspects — Casmire Mgbugha, 53; Hycent Chimezie, 30; Hycent Azunna, 28; Hycent Ifesinachi, 26; Hycent Chimobi, 23; Chukwuemeka Wisdom, 22; and Nnadike Clifford, 72; all males — were arrested when officers raided their camp in Agwa, Oguta LGA of the state.
The statement reads, “Sequel to the receipt of credible information that the native doctor who prepares charms for fortifications against bullets and knives for members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) for the attack and killing of a police officer in Agwa Community has returned after fleeing the community.
“The Command’s Tactical Teams, on 18/5/2022 at about 0600 hours hastily mobilised and with the positive revelations made in course of interrogating the suspects earlier arrested in connection with the killing, the team was able to locate the criminal hideout in Ubah Agwa in Oguta LGA of Imo State and immediately cordoned area and tactical went into the den.
“The hoodlums on sighting the police operatives, attempted to escape only to discover that the whole escape routes have been saturated with police operatives hence, they were arrested.
“Amazingly, while coming out of the terror camp, one of the suspects, Hycent Chimezie for the second time, attempted escaping and was maimed on the leg.
“In the course of interrogation, the suspects confessed to have murdered late Inspector Felicia Nwagbara, who was the second wife to one of the suspects — Casmire Mgbugba. They further stated that they are the manufacturers of the locally made guns recovered from them apart from using them in perpetrating crimes, they sell to robbers and kidnappers.”
The police spokesperson added that the weapons recovered from the suspects include a Toyota Camry with registration number AKD 73 BF LAGOS, live Python, eight locally-made pistols, 18 rounds of live cartridges, Biafran flag and “a pair of police camouflage uniform belonging to the late Inspector Felicia Nwagbara ‘f’ who has been declared missing since 2017 by police authorities”.
This comes a few weeks after the police arrested a 50-year-old suspect, Simeon Onigbo, who is allegedly manufacturing bombs for the IPOB/ESN members in Imo State.
