Police arrest ‘six ESN members’ in Enugu

The Enugu state police command has arrested six individuals suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

The arrests were reportedly made on Saturday during a coordinated operation in the Aninri area of the state, following intelligence gathered by the officer in charge of the special weapons and tactics (SWAT) unit.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the operation targeted a herbalist alleged to be offering spiritual support to ESN operatives at Oduma Achara.

Acting on the intelligence, a joint team comprising operatives from SWAT, the state intelligence squad (SIS), and the Octopus tactical unit conducted a raid that led to the arrest of six suspects.

Those arrested have been identified as Festus Godwin, Chisom Nwaigwe, Chidiebere Emmanuel, Ani Chibuike, Onyedika Njoku, and Chibueze Akpaigwe, a 23-year-old native of Obeagu Oduma.

The suspects are currently in police custody and are being interrogated in connection with their alleged affiliation with the separatist group and its paramilitary activities.