Police nab Rev. Pastor, others over attacks on police, INEC facilities

One Reverend Pastor Louis Okoh and seven others are being held and investigated by the Ebonyi State Police Command in connection with attacks on Ugbodo Police Divisional Headquarters and Independent National Electoral Commission offices in the state.

According to the Commissioner of Police in the state, Aliyu Garba, who disclosed this on Monday in Abakaliki at a press briefing, the suspects were severally arrested in the aftermath of the attack on Ugbodo Police Divisional Headquarters on May 22, 2021.

That attack was largely repelled by operatives, during which two policemen and two of the hoodlums, including a dismissed Soldier, Israel Onyibe, were killed.
One AK-47 rifle was recovered from the late dismissed Soldier.

And following credible information, four male suspects: Joseph Nwali, Ozibo Jonah (aka Ojukwu), Nwankwo Jacob, and Nwali Chibueze, were arrested in connection with the attack.

Ozibo subsequently led police operatives to their hideout at Amachi-Igbegu to apprehend their gang members, but on sighting police, the suspects engaged them in a gun battle, during which one Ebuka Urehu was felled, while others escaped with bullet wounds.

One AK-47 rifle with 30 rounds of ammunition and other items were recovered from them.

The CP disclosed that in yet another development, a notorious hoodlum, Nwite Okechukwu, aka More Money, was arrested, who then led operatives to their hideout at Mile 50 Abakaliki.

One AK-47 rifle, one assault rifle, one locally made pistol, one machete, two jack-knives and assorted charms were recovered.

Garba said the AK-47 rifle breech number was crosschecked and found to be the same police rifle that was taken away by the hoodlums from the Mobile Police Personnel killed at Ugbodo Divisional Headquarters on May 22, 2021.

According to him, in a follow-up investigation, Ozibo further led operatives to another hideout at Umuezeoka Community in Ezza North Government Local Area and Amike-aba in Ebonyi Local Government Area, where the gang members opened fire on sighting the Police.

During this exchange of fire, “one Obinna Uwah was fatally wounded while others escaped with bullet injuries.

“However, Rev. Pastor Louis Okoh, a native of Oziza in Afikpo North Local Government Area, Jude Mbam, Amos Ofoke and Jude Onyibe were arrested and are currently undergoing investigation.”

Items recovered from them included two AK-47 rifles, two assault rifle, three pistols, one English brownie and two locally made guns.

Others are Eastern Security Network Oath of Allegiance form, 10 red/white customised native caps with names and phone numbers attached to each; two remote controlled Improvised Explosive Devices; two wooden sticks with blood stains; and two jack-knives.

Garba said: “One of the suspects, Mbam Jude (aka ‘Stanza’) admitted and confessed that his gang members were responsible for the attack and burning of INEC offices in Ebonyi and Ezza North Local Government Areas of the state on 18th May 2021.

“The suspect also claimed responsibility, in connection with others at large, for the burning of Brass Filling Station located at Ogoja Road Abakaliki on 19th May 2021, maintaining that it was out of annoyance as their plan to attack INEC Headquarters, Abakaliki, was not successful due to heavy security presence.”

Garba said further that the suspect also confessed that the attack/burning of Fulani herdsmen settlements located at Agharaozara-Iboko in Izzi Local Government Area and Ozibo Echiaba Community in Ebonyi Local Government Area were also executed by them.