A bomb factory allegedly belonging to the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, has been uncovered in Ebonyi state, the state police command has said.
The police said it has also seized several arms following a raid on a bomb factory, describing the discovery as the biggest in the south east region, so far.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by Chris Anyanwu, the state police spokesperson, the bomb factory was uncovered following intelligence reports from those living around the community.
Narrating the incident, the police spokesperson, said the militants engaged the police in a gun duel leading to the death of two IPOB members. Some policemen also sustained injuries during the fight and are now receiving treatment, the police said.
Anyanwu said weapons recovered from the bomb factory include 30 pieces of IEDs, a non-electric initiator/detonator, 63 wraps of superpower, 90mm gelatin, and two solar prime 90mm gelatin.
Other arms are 16 danger 90 gelatin, 20 ideal power 90 gelatin 50mm, 239 pieces of plain non-electric detonators, 14 pieces of primed novels, 99 pieces of one-inch safety fuses, and one complete roll of safety fuse
The statement said, “The invasion of the criminals’ den was necessitated by an earlier encounter between operatives of the Command’s Tactical Teams sequel to credible information gathered that the hoodlums were operating/wreaking havoc in the state with a Toyota Sienna space bus which they robbed at gunpoint from the owner within Ishielu axis.
“A quick trail and joint effort with a team of detectives attached to Ohaukwu Division led to the arrest of Sunday Ubah a.k.a Bongo, the state commander of the IPOB/ESN in Ebonyi state.
“The miscreant who gave revealing pieces of information about the activities and modus operandi of the criminals, initially claimed that he is their PRO and native of Umunnochi in Isuikwuato LGA, Abia state.
“However, a scrupulous investigation aided by his antecedents/profile with the police command proved that he is a native of Obegu, Onicha LGA of Ebonyi state and indeed the factional commander of the outfit in Obegu.
“The police bomb expert in the command described it as a complete bomb factory – the biggest in the south-east and that each of the hand grenades (first of its kind) is capable of causing colossal damage to buildings and mass killing of humans.”
