A joint security operation in Imo State led to the arrest of three men suspected of being members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. The early morning raid took place on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at a location on Cameron Street in the Ubahu area of Okigwe Local Government. The operation followed actionable intelligence and involved tactical units of the Imo State Police Command working closely with local vigilante teams.
During the operation, a fierce exchange of gunfire broke out as security agents stormed the premises. Two suspects managed to escape through the nearby bushes, but three others were overpowered and taken into custody. Those arrested were later identified as 21-year-old Onyekaba Ikenna Innocent, 31-year-old Ugwu Ikenna, and 37-year-old Ofor Kasarachi.
The police disclosed the details of the operation the following day, Friday, at the state command headquarters in Owerri. While parading the suspects before the press, spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, explained that the raid led to the discovery of arms, ammunition, and other incriminating items.
Among the items recovered were one AK-47 rifle, two pump-action shotguns, and eighteen live cartridges. Several mobile phones and laptops believed to have been used in coordinating illegal activities were also seized. In addition to the weapons and devices, officers discovered ₦10.3 million in cash, which investigators suspect was raised by IPOB members to support acts of terrorism.
Okoye praised the tactical precision of the joint forces and reaffirmed the command’s ongoing commitment to rooting out threats to public safety across the state. He emphasized that the police, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma, remain determined to sustain the pressure on criminal groups operating in any form within Imo State.
With the Easter holiday season fast approaching, Okoye urged residents to remain calm and vigilant. He assured the public that patrols have been intensified, security surveillance has been upgraded, and multiple checkpoints have been strategically reinforced to guarantee a safe and peaceful celebration throughout the state.
