By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief/Defence Correspondent) @CeleOkaf11
The second in command to Ikonso, the slain former IPOB/ESN Commander, Awurum Eze, has finally been arrested by troops in Aba, a major commercial city of Abia state, the Nigerian Army said on Wednesday.
A statement on Wednesday in Abuja by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima revealed that Eze, a 48 years old native of Umoneke Nta, Isiala-Mbano Local Government Area of Imo, had on May 4, escaped when operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) stormed Isiala Mbano where he was allegedly hiding.
Brig-Gen. Yerima also said the intensive manhunt was thereafter launched towards tracing and arresting him. The Army Spokesman said Eze was eventually apprehended on Wednesday in Aba after weeks of unrelenting follow-ups by operatives.
“Awurum 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/ESN terrorists had earlier mentioned him as their key sponsor, mastermind, and Second in Command to late Ikonso.
“According to them, amongst all their leaders in Imo State, only Ikonso and Awurum have direct communication link with Nnamdi Kanu.
“He can be seen in several photographs posing with the fugitive terrorist leader, Nnamdi Kanu. An investigation by the combined team of security operatives continues,” he said.
The Army statement on Wednesday said thus:
"SECURITY FORCES ARREST ANOTHER IPOB/ESN TERRORISTS' HENCHMAN
"The Second in Command to the neutralized IPOB/ESN Terrorist leader Ikonso, Awurum Eze, has been arrested by security operatives in Aba, Abia State.
"The 48 years 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.
"Awurum 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 3 months. Many of the arrested IPOB /ESN terrorists had earlier mentioned him as their key sponsor, mastermind and Second in Command to late Ikonso. According to them, amongst all their leaders in Imo State, only Ikonso and Awurum have direct communication link with Nnamdi Kanu. He can be seen in several photographs posing with the fugitive terrorist leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
"Investigation by the combined team of security operatives continues.
Mohammed Yerima Brigadier General Director Army Public Relations May 12, 2021. NNL.
