16th May, 2024
Three members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB allegedly responsible for the abduction and murder of retired Major General Richard Duru were among the deadly suspects arrested over involvement in various crimes paraded by the police in Imo State on Thursday.
The alleged IPOB members identified as Chukwunonso Emmanuel, Okoroigwe Goodness, and Innocent Ogu, were among suspects paraded by the Imo commissioner of police, Aboki Danjuma at the command’s headquarters, Owerri on Thursday.
According to the police commissioner, the suspects who were arrested in Imo and Anambra States confessed to the crime of kidnapping and murdering Major General Duru, as well as being members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) /Eastern Security Network (ESN).”
Danjuma said the IPOB members who he described as members of a kidnap syndicate were busted through intense intelligence gathering and sustained follow-up by the command’s anti-kidnapping unit.
He said: “The suspects, Chukwunonso Emmanuel, Okoroigwe Goodness, and Innocent Ogu, were arrested in different locations in Imo and Anambra States. They confessed to the crime of kidnapping and murdering Major General Duru, as well as being members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) /Eastern Security Network (ESN).”
The Police Commissioner who was represented by the police spokesman, Henry Okoye, disclosed that the police also recovered 48 different firearms, 552 various calibres of live ammunition, and several stolen vehicles from the suspects.
“Additionally, 13 kidnapped victims were rescued and N9 million and other properties were recovered from the suspects,” he said.
The commissioner of police commended the operatives for their gallantry display in achieving the operational feats and charged them to sustain the tempo in their unwavering commitment to curtail the activities of criminally minded elements in the state.
“The suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigations”, he added.