Security operatives have arrested the second-in-command to Ikonso, the neutralised commander of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/ Eastern Security Network (ESN) Awurum Eze.
Awurum Eze was nabbed by security operatives in Aba, the Abia State in the southeast region of the country.
In a statement on Wednesday, The Director of Public Relations at the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima confirmed the arrest of the suspect.
The Forty-eight years old Eze according to the statement, is a native of Umoneke Nta in Isiala-Mbano Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
On Tuesday last week, the IPOB member was said to have escaped when operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) stormed his village house in Isiala Mbano where he was reportedly hiding.
“Intensive manhunt was, thereafter, launched towards tracing and arresting him,” said the army spokesman.
He noted that Eze was eventually apprehended on Wednesday, 12 May 2022, in Aba after weeks of unrelenting follow-ups by operatives.”
According to Gen Mohammed Yerima, Eze is one of the main sponsors of the numerous killings in Imo State and has been on the wanted list of security agents for more than three months.
Many of the arrested IPOB members were said to have mentioned him as their key sponsor, mastermind, and second-in-command to late Ikonso, the army spokesman noted in the statement.
“According to the arrested suspects, amongst all their leaders in Imo State, only Ikonso and Awurum have a direct communication link with Nnamdi Kanu.”
He stated, “He can be seen in several photographs posing with the fugitive terrorist leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Investigation by the combined team of security operatives continues.”
On April 24, the army confirmed the death of Ikonson – the overall commander and vice president of the secessionist group – by a combined team of security forces.
FRCN Abuja
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