As Imo State was reeling from the burning down of a hotel, a residential house and about 15 shops in Okporo and Obor communities, Umutanze Orlu, Imo State, on Sunday, the Nigerian Police on Monday announced the arrest of an alleged confessed financier of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the State.
Three persons reportedly died during the destruction of the hotel while some guests were also arrested.
The Police said that the Boniface Okeke, 57, is believed to have contributed N10 million in funding to IPOB.
Imo State Police Spokesperson, CSP Mike Abattam, said in a statement that Boniface Okeke was arrested in Obor autonomous community of Orlu Local Government Area in alleged ties to terrorism and attacks on security agencies and civilians.
The attacks, the Police said, saw many Police stations burnt and officers killed.
According to Abattam, “on interrogation, he confessed of being a facilitator and financer of IPOB/ ESN Operation in the State to the tune of N10 million while he was outside the country. He assisted the Police in the arrest of some of their members and decimation of their camps in the State.”
Sources said that security agents operating in about 15 vehicles, including an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), supervised the burning of the residential and business facilities before they left.
The burnt Ezeacho Hotel, owned by a businessman, Chinonso Uba, is located on the Okporo Mgbidi Road behind St Damian’s Hospital Mortuary, Okporo.
Also, the residential home burnt in Obor community is the hotelier’s country home.
No reason has been given for the burning of the hotel, house and shops but sources said that the hotelier’s mother, Mrs Dorathy Uba, is a popular politician in the Local Government Area.
Sources said that there was stampede during the shooting that occurred during the destruction of the properties, including the burning of motor bikes and vehicles, including a trailer conveying Guinness lager beer to an unknown destination.
A source noted Okporo-Nnepi Orlu has been involved in crisis since last week when some unknown gunmen engaged Police operatives in gun battle that claimed the lives of more than six bandits and that of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Fatmann Dooiyor.
The incident led to the closure of the timber and building materials market by the traders in solidarity with the leader of IIPOB, Nnamdi Kànu whose trial was to commence on Monday, July 26 but was later adjourned.
Soldiers were later deployed to take over the market believed to have been used as a shield by the gunmen during the attack.