The Imo State Police Command has arrested 19-year-old Isa Chinagro, a suspected member of the Neo Black Movement of Africa (NBMA), also known as Black Axe. The arrest followed a violent shooting incident in the Umuoma area of Nekede.
The operation began after a distress call from the local Vigilante Coordinator reported a young man had been shot by cultists. Officers from the Nekede Divisional Headquarters rushed to the scene to intervene and provide emergency assistance.
Upon arrival, police captured Chinagro, a native of Ogwa residing in Owerri Municipal, and recovered a locally made single-barrel pistol. While the suspect was detained, other members of the gang managed to escape into the surrounding neighborhood.
The shooting victim was successfully rescued by the operatives and rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has now taken over the case to conduct a more thorough forensic inquiry.
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Police spokesperson Henry Okoye confirmed that a manhunt is currently underway to apprehend the fleeing accomplices. The Command is utilizing all available resources to track the suspects and ensure they face the full weight of the law.
Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, warned that cultism remains a major threat to public safety and peace. He urged parents to monitor their children closely and warn them against joining criminal associations or engaging in drug abuse.
To prevent further violence, security has been tightened around the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) and Federal Polytechnic Nekede. These measures are designed to protect students and prevent any retaliatory attacks within the academic institutions.
The Command encourages residents to remain security conscious and report suspicious activities via their emergency line at 0803 477 3600. Public cooperation remains vital to the police’s ongoing efforts to rid the state of notorious cult groups.
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