The Eastern Security Network (ESN), a militia of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), claims to have apprehended a suspected producer of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Uba Umuaka, Njaba LGA, Imo state, according to the Imo police command.
Mike Abattem, police spokesperson in Imo, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.
“Following credible intelligence received on 20/4/2022 at about 1700hours, revealing the hideout of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB/Eastern Security Network (ESN), its militia wing, where they are manufacturing Improvised Explosive Devices used in attacking Police Stations and Government facilities in the state,” the statement reads.
“The Police Operatives immediately mobilised to the hideout of the terror group located at Uba Umuaka in Njaba local government area of Imo State and raided the camp”.
The suspect, Simeon Onigbowho, 50, was apprehended as authorities investigated ESN members’ hideouts, according to a police spokesperson.
The suspect claimed to being the manufacturer of majority of the IEDs used in attacks on police stations in Imo and neighboring states, according to Abattem.
He said weapons recovered from the suspect included an IDE, 58 pieces of cannon steel pipe, two chisels, one hammer, half bag of potassium nitrate, 30 pounds of sulphur, 40 pounds of dry sand, 10 pounds of red sand, 30 pounds of gun powder, half bag of charcoal, 30 electronic motorcycle batteries, and seven lengths of eight millimetre iron rods.
