A dismissed army lance corporal, Livinus Owalum-Barnabas, has been apprehended by the police over his role in the activities of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant arm of the outlawed pro-Biafra group in the South East.
Owalum-Barnabas is allegedly responsible for training and recruitment of people into ESN.
Premium Times reported that the suspect was picked up a few days after a top commander of the outlawed group, Awurum Eze, was arrested in Aba, Abia State.
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The ESN is believed to be responsible for the killings of security agents and destruction of public properties in the South-east and South-south zones, a claim both outfits denied.
Eyewitnesses said the 32-year-old former soldier was nabbed on Sunday at Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team.
Owalum-Barnabas was said to have been recruited by elite members of IPOB in Abuja and sent to train newly recruited IPOB/ESN in two of their training Camps in Abia and Delta States.
IRT Operatives, however, disclosed the suspect had made some confessional statement that is helping them in their investigation.
He was said to have been employed by the proscribed IPOB which promised to double the remuneration he was earning in the army before his dismissal.
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The ex-service officer also confessed to have trained at least 2,000 members of the ESN on combat operations, ambush and use of firearms, in the two camps between September to December last year.
According to him, he was engaged by a certain ‘Mr Ebere’ who paid him N100,000 before he proceeded to Abia State.
The suspect also disclosed that the said Ebere was later arrested alongside 14 other suspected members of the group who were using Church premises for their meetings where they raised money to be sent to the South-East for procurement of ammunition.
Items recovered from the ex-soldier were receipts, list of contributors, list of members and oaths of allegiance to Biafra and Nnamdi Kanu.
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