Army arrests deserter, plans IPOB camps’ raid

A deserter from the Nigerian Army identified as Nwagwu Chiwendu has been arrested in Imo State.

Chiwendu, with service number: 13NA/70/9974, was said to have left the Nigerian Army to team up with the paramilitary arm of the Indigenous People of Biafra in January.

He was accused of training IPOB members on the use of weapons.

According to a statement cited by our correspondent on Tuesday, the suspect confessed to participating in the killing of one person and abduction of two foreigners among others in the state.

It read, “13NA/70/9974 LcplNwagwuChiwendu, deserter personnel of the Nigerian Army. He deserted the NA and joined Eastern Security Network on January 21. He was their main trainer in weapon handling and rose to be the 2ic to Temple who is now the leader of the group in Imo State.

“He served on Operation Hadin Kai and thus has operational experience. He was arrested yesterday during the burial of his father at Mbaise.

“He confessed to killing Gulaq, and confirmed that his camp was responsible for kidnapping the two expatriates along Owerri-Okigwe Road and the killing of two police inspectors escorting them.

“They are the ones that also killed our soldier in the same location and the burning of our Hilux last week. They equally participated in the attack on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s office in Owerri. He is currently with the police.”

A source however told our correspondent that following his arrest, the military was planning massive raids on some IPOB hideouts in the state.

“Following his arrest, soldiers will be visiting some of their camps to arrest others,” the source said.