The group had also been accused of carrying some attacks on security formations especially on checkpoints where security men had turned into extortion point.

Four Commanders of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), have been arrested by a combined team of security operatives.

They were arrested over alleged involvement in a recent attack by gunmen on a convoy of United States (US) embassy officials in Ogbaru, Anambra State.

ESN is the armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which was set up to flush out terrorists herdsmen that have been ravaging the entire South East, destroying farm crops, raping women in their farms and killing others during the eight years of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The group had also been accused of carrying some attacks on security formations especially on checkpoints where security men had turned into extortion point.

SaharaReporters gathered that wife of one of the Commanders was also arrested, in the joint operation led by the Commander of the Naval base, Onitsha and the Anambra State Police Command.

SaharaReporters had reported that no fewer than four staff of the United States Embassy in Nigeria and security agents were shot dead and their bodies burnt while some were kidnapped in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State on May 17, 2023.

Although the victims were said to be humanitarian workers both the police and the Anambra State government denied any prior knowledge of such visit but later recounted. Meanwhile the reason for the attack is yet to be ascertained.

However, a security source confirmed to SaharaReporters on Thursday morning that the suspects were arrested during a raid of several criminal camps in Ogbaru local government area of the state.

According to one of the sources, members of the joint task force where drawn from police, Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with their commanders were involved in the operation.

He said “Several camps of the gunmen were on Wednesday raided by the security operatives in Anambra State during a joint task force operation conducted in Ogbaru LGA of the state.

“During the joint operation which was led by the Commander of naval base Onitsha in the company of the CP, Commandant of NSCDC and Commander NDLEA Anambra state, 4 notorious leaders/commanders of the IPOB/ESN in Ogbaru LGA were arrested.

“It was revealed that three of the arrested persons were reportedly part of the attack on the US convoy in Ogbaru three weeks ago.

“The communities expressed satisfaction at the efforts of the security operatives whose efforts have immensely contributed to the security of their lives and property.”

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters’ efforts to speak with the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu to confirm the arrest were unsuccessful as his phone was said to be unreachable as of the time of filing this report.

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