A deserter from the Nigerian Army, Chinwendu Nwangwu, has revealed how his gang assassinated a former Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak.
Mr Gulak was gunned down in Imo state on May 30, 2021.
Nwangwu, according to police account, said he led the operation in which they double-crossed and stopped the Toyota Camry taxi car that was taking Gulak and his friend to the airport.
The suspect revealed that after stopping the car, they ordered them to alight from the car which they obeyed. “We shot him but the bullet did not penetrate his body, so we went to him, removed the rings on his right fingers, shot and killed him along airport road,” the police recount further revealed.
The Imo State Police Command on Wednesday paraded a the army deserter, Nwangwu, aka Onyearmy.
The spokesperson for the command, Michael Abattam, said Nwaagwu, had deserted the army after eight years of service, adding that he has committed many atrocities since then.
Abattam said after years of surveillance, the suspect was arrested during his father’s funeral in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of the state.
The police spokesperson described the suspect as one of the ost notorious and vicious IPOB/ESN commander, who has been on the command’s wanted list and was being trailed for a long time.
“The suspect, whose modus operandi was guerrilla-like, that is, he unleashed surprise terror attacks and went into hiding in neighbouring states, was arrested on December 23, 2022, around 10.30am in his home town, Amahohuru Nguru in Aboh Mbaise LGA, after diligent gathering of both credible and technical intelligence, during his late father’s funeral.
“The suspect sat at a vantage position while his members were on surveillance. On sighting police operatives, they took to their heels, engaging the operatives in a shoot-out, using the crowd as a shield. He was later arrested after a long chase alongside two of his gang members with bullet injuries, while others escaped.
“Amazingly, he did not sustain any bullet injury; this he attributed to the charms worn all over his body he called ‘Odeshi’ meaning native bullet-proof.”
The police said after searching the suspect’s house, they recovered five pump-action guns; two cut-to-size double-barrelled guns; four locally-made pistols; 50 rounds of live cartridges; nine locally-made hand grenades, ESN regalia and charms and rings.
Nwangwu was alleged to have confessed to training over 1,000 ESN members in weaponry and terror attacks.
He was also reportedly confessed to have led attacks on security officers, police stations and offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“He led his gang members, including one Okechukwu Duru, and others, to kidnap one Jude Nwahiri on November 4, 2021, and collected a ransom of N21 million after killing four persons in the residence of the victim at Amaohuru Nguru in Aboh Mbaise LGA, Imo State,” the police spokesman added.
Nwangwu was reported to have murdered the traditional ruler of Amaohuru Nguru, Aboh Mbaise LGA, Imo State, Eze Anyanwu; a native doctor in Amaohuru Nguru, Uzodimma Ahaiwe; one Ugochukwu Olewuike, aka Taco; the youth leader of Amaohuru Nguru; one Krubo; a police inspector and a police sergeant, among others.
On December 25, the suspect reportedly led security agents to a camp in Obowo, where the operatives recovered five GPMG guns; four cut-to-size double-barrelled guns; five pump-action guns; three locally-made bombs; 19 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition; 52 live cartridges; 14 tear gas canisters; two police handcuffs; four safety desert boots; among others.
The suspect confessed to the crime and revealed that some of their sponsors lived in Nigeria and overseas.
