The police in Imo say they have arrested Chinwendu Nwagwu, the suspected leader of the gang that killed the lawyer and former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak.
Mr Gulak was killed on May 30, 2021, on his way to the Sam Mbakwe Airport to board a flight to Abuja.
According to the police, the suspect, Mr Nwagwu was arrested at his hometown, Nguru, Aboh Mbaise local council area of the state, on December 25.
Imo State’s police command spokesperson, Michael Abattam disclosed when the suspect was paraded at the command’s headquarters, in Owerri, on Wednesday.
Abattam informed that, Nwagwu, alias ‘Onye Army’, has confessed that he joined the Nigerian Army in 2013 but left in 2021.
He added that, the suspect said, he later joined the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
He further informed that, the suspect also confessed that he led the gang that attacked offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ihitte-Uboma and Isiala Mbano council areas.
According to the police, the suspect also confessed that he use black magic to prevent bullets from penetrating his body.
The police informed that, several items were recovered from his home during the raid and arrest.
The police spokesperson said, the items recovered include; five pump action guns, four locally-made pistols, two cut-to-size double-barrelled guns, 50 rounds of live cartridges, locally-made hand grenades and ESN regalia.
Abattam said, “He rose to become commander in the ESN and personally confessed to have trained over 100 persons in the IPOB.
“He also confessed to being part of those who burnt police stations and INEC offices and killed several innocent people.
“He confessed to a recent kidnapping of expatriate engineers along the Umuna/Okigwe road, murder of a native doctor in Nguru, Aboh Mbaise council area of Imo, and killing of a police inspector and a sergeant in Aboh Mbaise Police Station.
“He confessed to leading the burning of several police stations, the killing of a truck driver along Mbaise road, attack of Owerri Correctional Centre and Police Headquarters in Imo”.
Mr Abattam further informed that,Nwagwu, confirmed his involvement in the killing of Gulak, saying that, his paymasters, including some traditional rulers, had deserted him and declared him wanted.
According to him, he prayed to come in contact with security operatives, whom he believed would spare his life and give him a chance to defend himself legally.
The suspect said, “When my gang member shot Gulak, the bullet didn’t penetrate his body, so I came down from our vehicle, removed the rings on his finger and shot him before the bullet eventually penetrated. He fell to the ground and died”.
