Army arrests ESN commander, Awurum Eze

…NDLEA nabs ex-Lagos council boss with 1kg cocaine, N145m

NIGERIAN Army yesterday, arrested one Awurum Eze, the second in command to the deceased Eastern Security Network and militant wing, Indigenous Peoples of Biafra  leader, Ikonso.

  A statement signed by Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Mohammed Yerima said Eze was arrested in Aba, after weeks of unrelenting follow-ups and close-ins.

  According to Yerima, Eze was rounded up by soldiers working in conjunction with police and other security agencies following fresh leads from intelligence reports.

  “The Second in Command to the neutralised IPOB/ESN leader Ikonso, one Awurum Eze, has been arrested by security operatives in Aba, Abia State.

  The 48- year old Awurum Eze, a native of Umoneke Nta, Isiala-Mbano LGA, Imo State, had on the 4th of May, 2021, escaped when operatives of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) stormed his village house in Isiala Mbano, where he was hiding. Intensive manhunt was thereafter launched towards tracing and arresting him. He was eventually apprehended on Wednesday, 12 May, 2022, in Aba, after weeks of unrelenting follow-ups by operatives. Investigation by the combined team of security operatives continues,” Yerima said in the statement.

  The statement also described Eze as one of the main sponsors of the numerous killings in Imo State, who has been on the wanted list of security agents for more than three months. It also said the suspect has direct communication link with IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

  Similarly, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has nabbed ex-Lagos council boss, Asekun Kehinde after recovering one kilogramme of cocaine and N145 million from him.

  A statement released yesterday by NDLEA Director of Media and Publicity, Femi Babalola, said Askeun, who has been on the wanted list of the agency was nabbed by operatives at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

  According to Askeun, luck ran out of the suspect on Friday, while he was trying to board a Virgin Atlantic Airline flight to London.