Operatives of the Imo State Police Command attached to the Nekede Divisional Headquarters have arrested a suspected member of the Neo Black Movement of Africa (NBMA), also known as Black Axe, in connection with an attempted murder incident and recovered a locally made pistol.
The arrest, according to the command, followed a distress call received from the Vigilante Coordinator of Umuoma, Nekede, reporting that a young man was attacked and shot by suspected cultists.
The command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, in a press statement, said the operatives, acting on the information, swung into action and mobilised to the scene, where they arrested one Isa Chinagro, a 19-year-old native of Ogwa, Mbaitoli LGA of the state, but resident on Royce Road, Owerri Municipal.
Okoye hinted that preliminary investigation identified the suspect as a member of the notorious NBMA.
“During the operation, the police recovered one locally made single-barrel pistol and one expended cartridge from the suspect, while other members of the gang fled the scene.
“A victim was rescued and rushed to the hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment. Meanwhile, the command has launched a manhunt for the fleeing gang members, while the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has commenced further investigation into the matter,” he stated.
The command’s spokesperson added that the State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, has warned that cult-related activities remain a serious threat to public peace and safety, and charged parents and guardians to closely monitor and caution their children and wards against involvement in cultism, drug abuse and other criminal associations that endanger their future and the safety of society.
The command used the medium to urge residents to remain security conscious and continue to support the police with timely and credible information through the nearest police station or the command’s emergency line: 0803 477 3600.
Okoye further hinted that the command has beefed up security within the two federal institutions, FUTO and Federal Polytechnic Nekede, to curtail cult-related attacks.
