Imo State commissioner of police Abutu Yaro says the police have arrested the alleged Eastern Security Network (ESN) ‘native doctor’ with improvised explosive device (IED).
This is contained in a statement by Mr Yaro and signed by the Command’s Spokesman Mike Abattam in Owerri.
“After a diligent forensic and technical intelligence gathering, the suspect, Benneth Okoli, 49, was arrested in his shrine at Akuma in Oru East LGA of Imo.
“On searching the shrine, one locally made IED, charms and weed suspected to be cannabis were recovered.
“The suspect on interrogation made useful statements and is currently assisting the police to arrest the rest of his gang, presently on the run.
“The arrest is coming a few days after bandits had an encounter with the police in the area.
“Sequel to the attack on the Omuma Police Station in Oru East by bandits suspected to be the remnants of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and ESN terror groups, the CP dispatched the command’s tactical teams led by ACP Benjamin Osuji.
“The team was directed to carry out discreet investigation and arrest the bandits involved in the attack of the police station,” the statement read.
He said that the CP commended the gallantry displayed by the officers, urging them to sustain the tempo.
He also thanked the people of Imo for their support and solicited an all society approach to sustaining the already improved security architecture in the state.
