Law enforcement officials in Anambra have apprehended a man suspected of being affiliated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for involvement in extortion and acts of terrorism within the Ihiala Local Government Area.
The detainee, a 62-year-old male, reportedly served as an informant for IPOB and managed a network responsible for collecting illegal payments in the region.
According to Tochukwu Ikenga, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, the arrest was made by officers from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) based in Awkuzu on Wednesday.
Ikenga explained, “Initial investigations indicate that the suspect orchestrated the collection of unlawful fees from traders in the Isseke and Orsumoghu communities, demanding sums of ₦10,000 or more each month from individual business owners.”
He further revealed that the suspect also imposed extortion fees exceeding ₦100,000 on families organizing burial ceremonies or similar events prior to their occurrence.
These illicit funds were reportedly funneled to the local IPOB commander overseeing the area.
The suspect remains in police custody as inquiries continue to uncover the full extent of the operation.
