The Department of State Services (DSS) in Imo State has claimed that about seven youths of Otulu in Awomamma community of Oru East Local Government Area of the state allegedly killed by the Ebubeagu Security Network, were members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the security arm of IPOB.
The youths were reportedly murdered while returning home from a wedding ceremony on Sunday.
But releasing an unsigned statement to newsmen at its headquarters in Owerri on Wednesday, the DSS said, “It was a sting operation with the help of an ESN gang member, Chinonso Mmerem, earlier arrested by the operatives”
The release noted that the gang was gathered to plan for the enforcement of the illegal sit-at-home the following day, Monday 18 July, and subsequently opened fire on the sting operatives of the DSS and was consequently repelled with a superior firepower of the operatives, leading to the death of about seven of them.
The DSS, director, Imo State Command conducted journalists to the alleged ESN member in DSS custody, Mmerem Chinonso who allegedly led the DSS to the alleged hideout of his members where the said gang members were shot to death.
Answering questions from journalists, Mmerem who revealed he comes from Amiri Ubahu Azu in Imo State confessed he is a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) for about a year. He also noted that he was arrested by the DSS in his hometown about a week before the incident where he led DSS operatives to the hideout of his gang members.
Speaking about his involvement in the Sunday’s incident where about 14 youths of Otulu were murdered by alleged operatives of Ebubeagu, he claimed that he led DSS officers to their new camp at Awomamma where they killed some ESN members just as others escaped with bullet wounds.
“Yes I was there. We were in convoy. It was along the road at the place they are camping. We saw them; TUYC, Njaba and those guys. They were gathered there. Their motorcycles were parked by the side. They were gathered there drinking. We met them there and we started shooting. Many of them died there, some of them ran away”, he enthused.
He equally reveled how he got the information that the ESN was having a meeting at the place.
“I know that if you want to catch them, it will be on a Sunday when they gather to plan on how to go and do work on Monday lockdown,” he noted.
Mmerem revealed the identities of some of their alleged members, including the one at Orsu Ihitteukwa which he described as their federal camp.
He said he has repented and called on all other youths who are still operating as members of IPOB/ ESN to repent from it, as according to him, “there is no life there.”