The Lagos State Police Command has said it arrested Jonathan Nweke, a suspected member of the Eastern Security Network, the military wing of the secessionist group, the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.

The police said the 32-year-old was once arrested by the defunct Special Anti Robbery Squad in Ikeja but he escaped from detention when police formations were attacked during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.

The police, however, said it rearrested Nweke in the Ojo area of Lagos recently.

Speaking during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters on Wednesday, Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, said Nweke was one of the 1,320 suspected criminals paraded by the Command today.

He said one locally-made Berretta pistol and nine rounds of live 9mm ammunition were recovered from the suspected ESN member.

The CP said, “The suspect is a notorious Vikings confraternity member who has been terrorising Alaba Rago area of Lagos State and its environs. He was arrested with two others sometime in September 2020 for a case of armed robbery by the defunct Special Anti Robbery Squad in Ikeja with a locally-made single-barrel pistol. The suspect and others escaped from detention during the #EndSARS protests.

“On the 30/06/2021 at about 1200hrs, a team of policemen on patrol attached to the Divisional Headquarters, Ojo, Lagos while on stop and search duty rearrested the suspect at Volks off Badagry Expressway, with a locally-made Beretta pistol and nine rounds of 9mm live ammunition.

“The suspect, who is also suspected to be a member of the proscribed IPOB/ESN, confessed to have recently come back from Awka in Anambra State where he escaped after a cell break; and where he acquired the recovered arms and ammunition,” he said.

Odumosu stated that the suspect “is assisting operatives in the arrest of their gang members now at large,” adding that “investigation is ongoing to arrest the other fleeing members and also to recover more of their arms.

Courtesy (excluding headline) The PUNCH

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