Police arrest IPOB’s bomb maker, recover weapons in Imo
The Imo police command says it arrested a suspected manufacturer of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) for the Eastern Security Network (ESN), a militia of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in Uba Umuaka, Njaba LGA of Imo state.
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 police spokesperson said the suspect — Simeon Onigbowho, 50-years-old — was arrested when officers raided the hideouts of ESN members.
According to Abattem, the suspect admitted being the manufacturer of most of the IEDs used in attacking police stations in Imo and neighbouring states.
He said weapons, including one IDE, 58 pieces of cannon steel pipe, two chisels, one hammer, half bag of potassium nitrate, 30 pounds weight of sulphur, 40 pounds weight of dry sand, 10 pounds weight of red sand, 30 pounds weight of gun powder, half bag of charcoal, 30 electronic motorcycle batteries and seven lengths of eight millimetres iron rods, were recovered from the suspect.
“The Command’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD) has taken over the recovered bomb for technical analysis and subsequently for possible detonation,” Abattem said.
He added that an investigation is ongoing to arrest other members named by the suspect.
This is a set up by his cousin. This guy Simeon Onigbo is innocent of the allegation because he does fridge repair and Egbe nkponala business. every body knows him in the community. He inherited Egbe Nkponala from his late father, Even his elder brother, his wife and children has also learn it from their father as a family business. There”s nobody in the community who doesn’t know them for the lucrative business when it comes for burial, traditional wedding, chieftaincy title taking and other related occasions including visiting of prominent men or women like governors, presidents, high profile personalities. the truth is that he has a land dispute with one rich strong man in their village, these people felt that they are bigger, connected and wiser than this poor innocent Simeon Onigbo. They petitioned government of Imo state and federal that Simeon Onigbo is a bomb maker for IPOP because they know when they mention IPOP, government will be fast interested, That is how the police and Ebubeagu came to arrest Simeon Onigbo, they picked him at the village market where he repairs fridge and took him to his house for a search. of course we all knew that the materials the police mentioned are what is used in preparing Nkponala. The truth is that his kinsman want them to kill Simeon Onigbo so that he will take over the poor man’s inheritance land.