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Tag: IPOB

  • Troops neturalise IPOB/ESN commander, 3 others in Imo

    Troops neturalise IPOB/ESN commander, 3 others in Imo

    Troops of the Joint Task Force Operation ‘UDO KA’, have neutralised four members of the  proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), including a commander of the group’s armed Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Imo.

    Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, Spokesman for Task Force, said in a statement on Tuesday in Enugu that the troops, based on reliable intelligence, conducted special clearance operation on Monday in Udda, Ihittukwa and Orsumoghu communities in Orsu Local Government Area of the state.

    According to him, the troops dominated and captured the notorious stronghold of the IPOB/ESN at Mother Valley in spite of attempt by the criminal elements to detonate Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to stop the advancing troops.

    “The gallant joint troops with superior fire power forced the criminals to withdraw in disarray, in the encounter, four of the irredentists were neutralised and others escaped with gunshots wounds.

    “One of the IPOB/ESN commander, Tochukwu, Aka Ojoto, in-charge of Ihietukwa Command, despite many charms on his body, was neutralized,” he said.

    The spokesman listed items recovered from the hideouts to include an AK 47 Rifle with two magazines, two automatic pump action guns, three handheld Baofeng radios, one laptop, and a Techno phone.

    Others are car keys, quantity of substance suspected to be marijuana, Baifran currencies, five IEDs and the device making materials, as well as batteries for detonation of the IEDs, and assorted charms.

    He said that the Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, assured all citizens that the Joint Task Force was committed to ensuring peace and stability in the South-East, and called for timely, reliable and credible information through Toll Free line 193 –  Option 2.

  • Nnamdi Kanu: Lawyer demands ‘Fair hearing before trial’ as court fixes May 20 for judgment

    Nnamdi Kanu: Lawyer demands ‘Fair hearing before trial’ as court fixes May 20 for judgment

    The lead counsel to the, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) Alloy Ejimakor has called for “fair hearing safeguards” for his client.

    The lawyer said that his condition should be met before Kanu’s trial for terrorism begins.

    Recall that Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court had fixed May 20, 2024, to decide Kanu’s bail.

    The judge  will also rule on Kanu’s request to transfer him from the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, to house arrest.

    Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021 in a motion argued by Ejimakor requested the court to restore the bail granted him in 2017 by the same Judge.

    He told the court that contrary to the claim of the Federal Government, he did not jump bail or breach any of the conditions of the bail but had to escape out of the country when the military allegedly invaded his house.

    Reacting, Ejimakor posted on X: “We’re done with today’s proceedings. I called it ‘proceedings’ because it’s not yet a TRIAL.

    “Like I said earlier, before #MNK is put on trial, #FairHearing safeguards must be in place. We’ve made our applications; it’s now up to the Court to do the right thing. Next date: May 20.”

  • Court threatens to adjourn Nnamdi Kanu’s trial indefinitely

    Court threatens to adjourn Nnamdi Kanu’s trial indefinitely

    A Federal High court, Abuja, on Wednesday, threatened to adjourn the trial of leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, indefinitely.

    Justice Binta Nyako made this known after Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, told the court that the legal team was not ready for the trial.

    The development occurred after counsel for the Federal Government, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, informed the court that the prosecution was ready for the commencement of the trial based on the order of the court in the last adjourned date.

    Earlier, Justice Nyako had heard the two pending applications filed by Ejimakor on Kanu’s behalf.

    The first application sought for an order restoring Kanu’s bail that was revoked in 2017 and the second application sought an order transferring the IPOB leader to a house arrest.

    Ejimakor had argued that the revocation of his bail was as a result of the act of the prosecution when his client’s home was invaded.

    The lawyer argued that even the Supreme Court agreed that Kanu did not jump bail but only escaped for his dear life.

    He also insisted that there had been no change in the detention of Department of State Service (DSS) where Kanu is currently kept.

    He argued that the defendant’s legal team was not given unhindered access in accordance with Section 36(6) of the constitution to consult with him and adequately prepare for his defence.

    Counsel to the federal government, however, urged the court to discountenance Ejimakor’s submissions.

    The senior lawyer argued that the court was ”functus officio” to make another order vacating the earlier revocation order.

    He said the court lacked the jurisdiction to make such an order and that the only option left for parties was to appeal.

    He insisted that parties were bound by the court order.

    Awomolo said the defence only relied on a side comment of (orbiter) one of the justices of the Supreme Court.

    According to him, a side comment does not decide the main issue.

    He argued that the detained Kanu was not being charged for money laundering but terrorism.

    He described terrorism charge as the worst charge today in Nigerian law.

    Awomolo equally urged the court to dismiss the application seeking for Kanu’s transfer to a house arrest, arguing that Ejimakor’s allegations were not backed by verifiable evidence.

    He said the defence did not deny the fact that they were allowed access to their client.

    “We have before your lordship signatures and names of all the counsel who have visited him,” he added.

    He said that it was the discretion of the court to remand Kanu in a place that is safe and secure.

    The lawyer further argued that what the defence team wanted was an executive and unsecure place where Kanu can be kept.

    Justice Nyako, who fixed May 20 for ruling on the two applications, directed the prosecution to call their witness.

    When Awomolo, who already notified the court that they had a witness in court, said he was ready to proceed, Ejimakor insisted that they were not ready to proceed with the trial.

    “We have not prepared our client for trial,” he said, adding that no lawyer would allow a trial when Section 36(6) of the constitution had not been respected.

    But the judge threatened to adjourn the trial sine die (indefinitely) if Ejimakor insisted that the trial should not continue.

    Ejimakor then applied for a stand down to enable him consult with Kanu and other team of lawyers if the trial could continue and Justice Nyako stood the matter down for 10 minutes.

  • Police raid IPOB/ESN hideout in Enugu, neutralise 2, recover firearm, ammunition

    Police raid IPOB/ESN hideout in Enugu, neutralise 2, recover firearm, ammunition

    The Police Command in Enugu State says it has raided an Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) criminal hideouts in Akwuke axis of Enugu metropolis.

    The police operatives, however, met with resistance from the renegades, who opened fire upon sighting them, but they were subdued by the superior firepower of the police, leading to the neutralisation of two of the renegades.

    The Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement on Sunday that the Police conducted the raid on Saturday at about 2:30 a.m.

    Ndukwe said that other members of the outlawed group escaped with various gunshot wounds.

    He said that one AK-47 rifle, one Sub-Machine Gun (SMG), one stainless Pump-Action Gun (PAG), 27 live and 23 expended rounds of 7.62 mm calibre ammunition were recovered after the raid and gun duel.

    According to him, police also recovered five live cartridges and a small blue-coloured Gideon New Testament Bible probably used to conceal objects suspected to be charm.

    “In pursuance of the proactive/crime prevention strategies devised by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, police operatives of Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad carried out an intelligence-guided raid of a suspected IPOB/ESN hideout in Akwuke community in Enugu metropolis.

    “A preliminary investigation reveals that the breech number of the recovered AK-47 was wiped off.

    “The criminal elements are responsible for several attacks and carting away of police officers rifles, as the rifle’s magazine bore the Nigeria Police Force colour. Further discreet investigations are ongoing,” he said.

    The spokesperson noted that the CP, while commending the operatives for the feat, reaffirmed the command’s unwavering commitment to rid Enugu State of unrepentant criminals.

    He that the commissioner solicited the continued support of the citizenry, while urging them and owners of medical facilities, in particular, to report persons found with gunshot wounds to the nearest police operative or station.

  • DSS confisticates Nnamdi Kanu’s legal document, IPOB lawyer alleges

    DSS confisticates Nnamdi Kanu’s legal document, IPOB lawyer alleges

    Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Aloy Ejimakor, has alleged that the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) seized a particular legal document from him.

    Ejimakor said he took a “critical” legal document to Kanu for review at the DSS headquarters on Monday, but the secret police officials collected it without returning it till he left.

    Kanu’s lawyer made this known in a post he made on X announcing his visit to the IPOB leader who has been in the custody of the DSS since 29 June 2021.

    The IPOB lawyer, then, vowed that Kanu would not tried under violations of that kind, adding that, “it is not a court-martial.”

    “I just exited from today’s visitation with Onyendu #MNK. I took a critical legal document to him to preview it, but, as usual, the DSS seized the document and never brought it back until I left,” Ejimakor wrote.

  • Nigerian Govt spends N800m to bring Nnamdi Kanu to court –Kanu’s Family alleges

    Nigerian Govt spends N800m to bring Nnamdi Kanu to court –Kanu’s Family alleges

    A new issue brought up by the family of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu,  alleging that that Nigerian government has spent N800 million for each of Kanu’s court appearances.

    In a statement on Saturday, the family’s spokesperson, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, highlighted that Kanu’s situation seems to have turned into a lucrative business for certain corrupt individuals in power.

    Questions have been raised regarding the beneficiaries of the reported N800 million spent during Kanu’s court appearances.

    The family demands transparency from the government in revealing the recipients and purposes of the funds.

    There are concerns that if substantial amounts of money are indeed being spent on his court proceedings, obtaining bail for Kanu might become challenging as those profiting from his incarceration may be reluctant to relinquish their gains.

    The family reiterated their disappointment with the Igbo political class for allegedly neglecting Kanu and expressed deep distress about his current health.

    Recent information suggests a critical decline in Kanu’s health, with the family highlighting the urgent need for him to see a cardiologist, stressing that access to his personal doctors has been restricted.

    The family appeals to the international community to intervene and pressure the Nigerian Government to release Kanu, whom they believe is unjustly detained for advocating the freedom of the Biafran people.

    His family members emphasize the urgent need for medical attention to prevent a potential health crisis for the pro-Biafra agitator.

    Since his forced abduction and transfer from Kenya on June 21, Kanu has been isolated at the Abuja headquarters of the Department of State Services, DSS.

  • Defense Headquarters declare IPOB’s Ekpa, 96 others wanted

    Defense Headquarters declare IPOB’s Ekpa, 96 others wanted

    One of the leaders of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa has been declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, the Nigeria Capital.

    Ekpa’s name was among other 96 wanted persons on the list published on the Military’s website.

    In a banner displaying the pictures of the suspects, the Defence Headquarters said it declared 97 persons wanted for terrorism, violent extremism and secessionist threats against the state.

    However, among the 97 wanted persons, Finland based  Ekpa has been declared prominent among them all.

    He’s known for his notorious Monday sit-at-home in the South-East zone.

    The Director, Defence Media Operations Major General Edward Buba, Director, confirmed the names and pictures of the people declared wanted.

    The wanted persons, terrorists/ bandits and insurgents commanders are from the North East, North West, North Central and South-East zones.

    A breakdown of the wanted persons shows that 43 were declared wanted in North West Zone plagued by banditry, and kidnapping among others and they include bandits/terrorists leaders such as Alhaji Shingi; Malindi Yakubu; Boka ; Dogo Gide; Halilu Sububu; Ado Aliero ; Bello Turji; Dan Bokkolo; Labi Yadi ; Nagala; Saidu Idris; Kachalla Rugga and Sani Gurgu.

    In the North East, 33 persons were declared wanted and they include terrorists commanders: Abu Zaida; Modu Sulum; Baba Data; Ahmad; Sani Teacher; Baa Sadiq; Abdul Saad; Kaka Abi; Mohammad Khalifa; Umar Tella; Abu Mutahid; Mallam Mohammad; Mallam Tahiru Baga; Uzaiya and Ali Ngule.

    In the North Central and South East 21 Insurgents/militants and violent criminals were equally declared wanted.

    They include factional IPOB leader, Simon Ekpa; Chika Edoziem; Egede; Zuma, ThankGod Gentle; Flavour; Mathew; David Ndubuisi ; High Chief Williams Agbor; Ebuka Nwaka; Friday Ojimka.

    Others in the South East are Obiemesi Chukwudi aka Dan Chuk; David Ezekwem Chidiebube and Amobi Chinonso Okafor aka Temple.

    In February 2023 days before the presidential and national assembly election, Ekpa was arrested in Finland where he resides after threatening that the elections would not hold in the South-East.

    Ekpa was arrested by the police in his residence in the Lahti area of the country, a Finnish paper Helsingin Sanomat had reported.

    The separatist repeatedly declared that there will be no elections in the South-East region of the country and insisted on the observance of a sit-at-home every Monday in the area to protest the detention of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu.

    IPOB, however, distanced itself from the Finland-based Ekpa who was reportedly billed for an interview before his arrest.

    He was later released and has since been very active on social media where he posts his pro-Biafran messages.

  • Court dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s appeal on unlawful arrest, detention

    Court dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s appeal on unlawful arrest, detention

    The Court of Appeal on Monday dismissed the appeal filed by Felix Okonkwo, one of the lawyers to the  leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu over his unlawful arrest and detention by the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) .

    Justice Okon Abang dismissed the appeal for want of merit.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Abang held that the appellant failed to establish miscarriage of justice in the judgment of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in the matter.

    The appellants comprising of Felix Okonkwo, Ikenna Chibuike and Okafor Ugochukwu had dragged the Nigeria Police Force and the DSS before the high court for the enforcement of their client’s fundamental human rights.

    The appellants specifically accused the two security agencies of violating their fundamental rights by their unlawful arrest and detention on September 27, 2021, during which they claimed that they were tortured, harassed and intimidated while in the custody of the Police.

    Justice Samaila Bature had, in his judgment delivered on March 24, 2022 found the police liable for the unlawful arrest and detention of the the appellants and subsequently imposed a fine of N2 million against Police to be paid to the appellants.

    Justice Bature however did not make any order against the DSS because the appellant, then plaintiffs did not disclose any cause of action against the state services.

    Not satisfied with the findings and decisions of the high court, the three plaintiffs had approached the Court of Appeal praying for an order to hold that SSS was also culpable in their arrest and detention.

    They claimed that the N2 million imposed on the police as fine, was paltry and ridiculously low and asked the appellate court to jerk up the fine as compensation for their unlawful arrest and detention.

    In a unanimous judgment by a three-man panel of the appellate court, Justice Abang held that from the video footage tendered as exhibit by the appellants at the trial court, there was no where the operatives of the SSS were found at the scene of their arrest in the house of Ifeanyi Ejiofor in Anambra state.

    He disagreed with the appellants in their claims that the N2 million compensatory damages was grossly insufficient.

    According to Abang, the decision to award compensatory damages is at the discretion of a Judge and cannot be dictated by any plaintiff or appellant.

    In the instant case, Justice Abang agreed with Justice Bature that perculiar facts and circumstances of the unlawful arrest and detention of the appellants were carefully considered at the trial court before arriving at the amount.

    Besides, Justice Abang said that the appellants did not point out irrelevant facts in the judgement of the high court and did not also disclose their status in the society, they did not point out their monthly or yearly income and also did not point out what they lost in the course of their detention.

    “In my opinion and going by the perculiar facts and circumstances of this case, the N2 million compensation to the appellants was properly awarded.

    “I cannot fault the award because the appellant did not give any good reason for them to have been awarded a much higher amount.

    “In the final analysis, the appeals lacks merit and it is accordingly dismissed, the decision of the trial court is hereby affirmed. There is order as to cost”, Justice Abang held.

    Justices Joseph  Oyewole and Abba Bello Mohammed endorsed the unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Abang.

  • Military eliminates 20 IPOB/ESN terrorists

    Military eliminates 20 IPOB/ESN terrorists

    The Combined troops of Operation UDO KA, have eliminated 20 IPOB/ESN terrorists and destroyed their command centre in Mother Valley, Orsu Local Government Area of Imo.

    The operation was conducted together with the police, civil defence and Department of State Services personnel.

    The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, that the operation was held on March 7.

    Buba said the troops destroyed about 50 tents, the terrorists Supreme Headquarters, Command and Control Centre, and their Military Council Headquarters.

    Other structures destroyed include the terrorists residences, office, logistic base, temple and shrine.

    According to him, the camp has been well concealed with foliage that affords the criminals cover from air surveillance.

    Buba said the camp also had sufficient power supply, and several farms and livestock to sustain the terrorists.

    “During the operations, troops also encountered several command IEDs and ditches along the axis to the camp.

    “All were detonated and ditches covered with excavator before reaching the camp.

    “The location is identified to be the supreme headquarters, command and control centre as well as the Military Council Headquarters of IPOB/ESN.

    “Following a fire fight, troops neutralised 20 terrorists and recovered several quantities of assorted weapons such as G3 rifles, AK47 rifles,  auto pump action guns, double barrel guns,  locally made pistols and RPG bombs,” he said.

    The Defence spokesman said the troops also recovered 226 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 216 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 172 live cartridges, four AK47 magazines and three G3 magazines.

    Others are several quantities IEDs, POS devices, baofeng radios, mobile phones, CCTV cameras, inverter and batteries, and Biafra flags, among others.

    Buba said that the shrine at the camp was littered with shallow graves indicative of ritual killings.

    “The ritual killings at the camp accounts for the several cases of missing persons in the region.

    “The recovered items are being processed and analysed for their intelligence value.

    “Nevertheless, troops are sustaining the momentum and going in pursuit of the terrorist and their cohorts, dislodging them from their enclaves,” he added.

  • Troops destroy IPOB supreme headquarters in Imo

    Troops destroy IPOB supreme headquarters in Imo

    Troops of the Nigerian Army, in cooperation with sister security agencies, have raided and destroyed the supreme headquarters of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) at mother valley, Orsu council area of Imo.

    The Force Commander, Joint Task Force South-East, Operation Udo Ka, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at Eke Ututu, Orsu Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo on Friday.

    Operation Udo Ka which started on Feb. 11, 2024, involved troops of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force as well as personnel of the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    The Commander said the troops cleared and liberated Ihiteukwa, Eke Ututu and Ihittenansa towns, all in Imo, as well as Orsumoghu and Lilu towns in Ihiala and Ekwusigo LGAs of Anambra.

    He said that the headquarters, which served as the last IPOB stronghold, is located in the Mother Valley and spans Orsu and Ihiala LGAs of Imo and Anambra respectively.

    “It is about 5,000 feet below sea level,” Dada disclosed.

    He added that the well concealed forest location afforded the terrorists good cover from air surveillance and served as their command and control centre and military council headquarters.

    He also said that during the raid, the last of which occurred on Thursday, March 7, the gallant troops encountered, detonated and recovered many Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and various types of obstacles which were cleared by the determined troops.

    He further said the troops also came in contact with the terrorists, subdued them with superior fire power and neutralized many of them while others with varying degrees of gunshot wounds fled into surrounding bushes.

    “In addition to many weapons, equipment, IEDs and stolen vehicles recovered over the last three weeks, items recovered in the Mother Valley include three G3 rifles, nine automatic pump action rifles, seven double barrel guns, two locally-made pistols, two rocket-propelled grenade bombs, two AK 47 magazine and one G3 magazine.

    “Others were 26 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 16 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 72 Pump Action Cartridges, one chainsaw, one laptop, one CCTV DVR, 26 CCTV cameras, 17 baofeng radios with batteries and 10 without batteries and their chargers.

    “Also recovered were six handheld IEDs, 26 android phones, 25 ordinary phones, one inverter, one SIM card registration machine, four POS machines, three motorcycle batteries for igniting IEDs, two trumpets, two Biafra flags, 20 ESN certificates, two diaries containing details of ammunition and food supplies and two pairs of Biafra Liberation Army uniforms.

    “The joint troops also destroyed about 50 tents in the valley housing the Supreme Headquarters, IPOB/ESN command and control center, Buteuzor’s hideout and residence, offices, their logistics base, temples and shrines used for occultic practices among many other items,” he said.

    Dada commended Imo and Anambra people for their cooperation with security agencies while requesting them to report any strange faces in their communities to the Operation Udo Ka by dialing the emergency line 193 and pressing option 2 from their mobile phones.

    He enjoined the leaders of all liberated communities to return to their ancestral homes and deploy community efforts to ensure that all criminal elements who are not from the communities are not allowed to return to desecrate their homelands.

    He thanked Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, for their support, advice and guidance throughout the operation.

    He assured that the troops will continue to provide all security support to affected communities within the ambit of the law.

    However, in what can best be described as a display of civil-military relations, the Force Commander presented gift items, including bags of rice and cartons of noodles, to women of the Eke Ututu market.