An escapee of the Jos Prison Break, Chimezie Chukwu, has been arrested by troops in Sector 1 of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA II at the Ugbakwa Village in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State on Friday, October 20.
This was revealed in a statement shared on the Facebook page of the Nigerian Army on Sunday, October 22.
According to the statement, Chukwu was apprehended 'during a raid in the hideout of unknown gunmen in Ugbakwa Village in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.'
The statement was titled: 'TROOPS OF OPERATION UDO KA II APPREHEND ESCAPEE OF JOS PRISON BREAK'
It reads: ‘Troops of Sector 1 of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA II on Friday 20 October 2023 in conjunction with the Department of State Security Enugu State Command conducted a raid operation to suspected Indigenous People of Biafra and it's armed affiliates the Eastern Security Network hideout in Ugbakwa Village in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.
"During the raid operations, troops apprehended one Mr. Chimezie Chukwu AKA Biggi, an escapee of Jos Prison Break known to be a drug peddler, gunrunner and specialized in armed robbery. Items recovered from him include six mobile phones, three mobile phone batteries, one Moniepoint POS and ATM card, two packs of substances suspected to be cannabis, and the sum of One Hundred and Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty Naira only. The suspect and recovered items are in the custody of the DSS for further investigation.
"Similarly, troops of Sector 4 deployed at Forward Operational Base in Okigwe, Imo State, while on checkpoint duties, spotted an identified IPOB/ESN member on a motorcycle. When ordered by the troops to halt and alight from the motorcycle, he took to his heels to escape arrest.
"All efforts to stop him proved abortive, forcing the troops to open fire and neutralize the suspect. Items recovered from him are two live rounds of 7.62mm Special, One ITEL Mobile phone, One small bag containing charms, Two thousand three hundred naira only, and One Qlink motorcycle.
"Additionally, troops of Sector 5 of Operation UDO KA II acting on credible intelligence also conducted raid operations to suspected IPOB/ESN camps at Ogbunka in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
"On arrival, the camp was already abandoned by the terrorist group. However, troops recovered three abandoned Sport Utility Vehicles, which are Two Toyota Highlanders and One Mercedes Benz ML 350; efforts are ongoing to identify the owners of the vehicles.
"Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA II, therefore, calls on the law-abiding and good citizens of the South-East region to provide timely, credible, and reliable Information that will assist in ending this menace in the region.
"Operation UDO KA II will continue combating crime and criminality in accordance with the extant rules and regulations guiding its operations."