A Nigerian army deserter 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 join the paramilitary arm of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra in January.
He was accused of training IPOB members in the use of weapons.
According to a statement quoted by our correspondent on Tuesday, the suspect confessed to having participated in the murder of a person and the kidnapping of two foreigners, among others in the state.
It read: “13NA/70/9974 LcplNwagwuChiwendu, Deserted Nigerian Army Personnel. He left NA and joined the Eastern Security Network on January 21. He was her main trainer in weapons handling and became Temple’s 2ic, who is now the leader of the group in Imo State.
“He served in Operation Hadin Kai and therefore has operational experience. He was arrested yesterday during his father’s funeral in Mbaise.
“He confessed to killing Gulaq and confirmed that his camp was responsible for the kidnapping of the two expatriates along the Owerri-Okigwe Road and the murder of two police inspectors who were escorting them.
“They are the ones who also killed our soldier in the same place and the burning of our Hilux last week. They also participated in the attack on the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Owerri. He is currently with the police.”
However, a source told our correspondent that after his arrest, the military was planning massive raids on some IPOB hideouts in the state.
“After their arrest, the soldiers will visit some of their camps to arrest others,” the source said.
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