The Nigerian Navy has apprehended five suspects allegedly linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), its armed wing the Eastern Security Network (ESN), and associated criminal elements, transferring them to the Department of State Services (DSS) in Anambra State for further investigation and prosecution.
In a statement by Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the suspects were arrested by personnel of Naval Outpost Onitsha, deployed at Forward Operating Base Amiyi, following credible intelligence reports of suspected criminal activities within the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Preliminary investigations, the statement revealed, identified one suspect as the alleged coordinator of the group’s operations across the affected communities, with the remaining four confirmed as active network members. Initial findings also pointed to specific locations reportedly used for clandestine meetings and recruitment drives.
“In keeping with established inter-agency collaboration protocols and extant regulations, the Navy subsequently transferred custody of all five suspects to the Department of State Services for thorough investigation and prosecution as deemed appropriate,” the statement read.
Navy Captain Folorunsho described the operation as a reflection of the Nigerian Navy’s sustained commitment to internal security, emphasising its resolve to combat criminality, violent extremism, and emerging threats to national security across joint operational areas.
The Navy reaffirmed its dedication to collaborative security engagements with relevant agencies, stating that its efforts remain firmly focused on ensuring lasting peace, stability, and the protection of lives and property across the country.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​