Police Bust Criminal Camp In Anambra, Arrest Suspect Linked To Murder Of Policewoman
In a significant breakthrough in the fight against violent criminality and separatist-linked attacks in the Southeast, the Anambra State Police Command has dismantled a notorious criminal camp in Osumoghu Isieke Village, Ihiala Local Government Area. The raid, executed by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad and Anti-Kidnapping Unit on April 25, 2025, resulted in the arrest of a 35-year-old suspect, Ewulu Chikwo, who has been linked to the 2022 murder of Police Inspector Stella Maris.
The operation, based on credible intelligence, was carried out as part of a broader preemptive strategy to prevent the enforcement of an illegal sit-at-home order reportedly planned by armed agitators affiliated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). According to the police, such unlawful directives have repeatedly been used as a guise to carry out coordinated attacks on security agents and public institutions across the Southeast.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the arrest and disclosed chilling confessions made by the suspect.
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“During the interrogation of the suspect, he confessed to being a member of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and also among the armed criminals that attacked the Ukpor Divisional Police Headquarters in the year 2022, where a policewoman, Inspector Stella Maris, was gruesomely murdered,” Ikenga stated.
Osumoghu Isieke, a rustic village in Ihiala LGA, has long been under the radar of security operatives due to the upsurge in attacks attributed to militant elements operating under the IPOB and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). Locals have often lamented the deteriorating security situation, citing a growing fear of reprisals from both criminals and, in some cases, overzealous security personnel.
According to inside sources, the raid began in the early hours of Friday with a combined team of tactical officers moving in stealth to avoid tipping off the criminals. Upon arrival at the scene, a fierce exchange of gunfire reportedly ensued. Though the police have yet to officially confirm any casualties during the operation, eyewitness accounts suggest some armed men may have escaped into nearby bushes.
Recovered from the camp were assorted weapons, including locally fabricated rifles, communication gadgets, face masks, charms believed to be used for fortification, and items indicating a planned assault on public infrastructure to mark the Monday sit-at-home.
The successful raid was the culmination of weeks of painstaking intelligence gathering and surveillance. The suspect, Ewulu Chikwo, was allegedly acting as both an enforcer and a recruiter for IPOB cells operating in Ihiala and neighboring communities.
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Inspector Stella Maris, the policewoman whose murder Chikwo has now been linked to, was killed during an attack on the Ukpor Divisional Police Headquarters in 2022. The assailants, believed to be members of IPOB/ESN, stormed the station in broad daylight, torching vehicles and shooting indiscriminately. Maris, who was on duty at the time, reportedly tried to radio for backup when she was shot at close range and her body mutilated.
Her death drew widespread condemnation and was one of the incidents that triggered an aggressive counter-insurgency approach by the police and military in the region. Since then, many suspected IPOB members have been declared wanted, with several being arrested or killed in various raids.
The confession by Ewulu Chikwo has opened a new chapter in the investigation into multiple unresolved attacks on security infrastructure in Anambra and other parts of the Southeast. According to SP Ikenga, Chikwo has provided useful leads that could help in unmasking other members of the cell responsible for the Ukpor attack and similar incidents.
“This arrest is a major milestone in our efforts to rid Anambra State of criminal elements masquerading as freedom fighters. The suspect has been cooperating with investigators, and we are following up on actionable intelligence he has provided,” Ikenga stated.
The police spokesperson reiterated that the Command will continue to act swiftly on credible security tips and will not relent until all criminals threatening peace in the region are brought to justice.
While the police have hailed the raid as a major success, the local community remains on edge. Residents of Osumoghu and surrounding villages say they fear reprisals from fleeing gang members who may suspect locals of providing intelligence to security agencies.
“This place has become a danger zone. We are scared. Some of us are now being tagged informants. The government must do more to protect us,” said a local youth leader who spoke under condition of anonymity.
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Civil society groups and traditional leaders have called for increased police-community engagement to rebuild trust and restore normalcy. They insist that while security operations are necessary, they must be accompanied by development and dialogue to address the root causes of militancy.
Predictably, IPOB has denied any involvement in the attack or the suspect’s claim of affiliation. In a swift rebuttal issued through its media arm, the separatist group accused the Nigerian police of stage-managing arrests and extracting confessions under duress.
“We are not responsible for any violence in Anambra or anywhere else. Nigerian security forces are simply looking for scapegoats to cover their failure,” the statement read.
Security analysts, however, argue that IPOB’s denials are part of a pattern meant to deflect blame while maintaining a network of violent cells. They insist that the group’s structure allows for plausible deniability even when overwhelming evidence links members to acts of terror.
The security situation in the Southeast remains complex. What began as peaceful agitation for secession has gradually metamorphosed into armed insurrection, with IPOB and ESN accused of carrying out targeted killings, kidnappings, and attacks on public facilities.
According to security experts, the mix of ideological extremism, criminal opportunism, and socio-political disenchantment has created fertile ground for violence to thrive. In the absence of sustained government presence and development, many rural communities have become lawless zones.
The Nigerian government has maintained that it will not tolerate any form of secessionist violence, insisting on the unity and sovereignty of the country. However, critics argue that a militarized approach alone cannot solve what is fundamentally a political problem.
While the arrest of Ewulu Chikwo is a commendable step, stakeholders believe it must mark the beginning of a more comprehensive strategy. This includes addressing human rights concerns during security operations, investing in community policing, and launching deradicalization programs for repentant militants.
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There is also a call for increased transparency and accountability within security agencies. Past abuses, extra-judicial killings, and arbitrary detentions have fueled resentment and eroded public confidence.
In the meantime, SP Tochukwu Ikenga has urged residents of Anambra to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities. “Security is a collective responsibility. We count on the continued support of the public to defeat these enemies of peace,” he said.
As investigations continue, many hope that the arrest of Ewulu Chikwo will not only bring justice for Inspector Stella Maris but also pave the way for the dismantling of other criminal syndicates terrorizing the Southeast.
