DSS Investigator Details Tracking of Suspects in IPOB Operative Murder Case
A Department of State Services investigator has provided testimony in an Abuja Federal High Court regarding the abduction and killing of operative Ekpenyong Owoh, detailing the intelligence operation that led to the arrest of four suspects.
A Department of State Services (DSS) investigator has testified in the Federal High Court in Abuja, providing a detailed account of how the agency tracked and apprehended four individuals accused of the abduction and murder of DSS operative Ekpenyong Owoh. The testimony, delivered by a witness identified as AAA, marks a significant development in the ongoing trial of the four suspects.
Background of the Investigation
According to the witness, who has served with the DSS for 17 years, the investigation began in February 2022 following a report from Owoh’s wife. She had alerted the DSS Anambra Command that her husband went missing while traveling from Port Harcourt to Awka. Technical analysis conducted by the agency indicated that Owoh was last seen in Osomogu, located in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, where his vehicle was also traced.
The prosecution alleges that the defendants—Michael Okafor, Chinedu Chukwudozie, Chibunna Olisa, and Chigozie Olisa—conspired to commit acts of terrorism. They were arraigned on September 28 on a six-count charge, including kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms, such as an AK-47 rifle and a pump-action gun. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Arrest and Alleged Motive
The witness testified that the DSS collaborated with the military to conduct operations in areas identified as strongholds for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). A breakthrough occurred on June 20, 2026, following the arrest of one Chinyere Okabue, whose information reportedly led investigators to the defendants. Michael Okafor, identified by the witness as an ESN sub-commander, was arrested on September 14, 2026, with the other three suspects apprehended shortly thereafter.
The investigator alleged that Owoh was intercepted while traveling to visit his family. He claimed that the operative was taken to an ESN camp, where he was killed on the orders of a sub-commander known as “Double Lion” and subsequently buried in a shallow grave. The witness further alleged that Okafor converted Owoh’s vehicle for personal use and gifted the operative’s mobile phone to a girlfriend.
Courtroom Inspection of Evidence
A notable moment during the proceedings occurred when the witness alleged that the four defendants bore a specific ESN identification mark, “1414,” on their bodies. In response to this claim, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the defendants to remove their clothing in the courtroom. Both the witness and the defense counsel confirmed the presence of these marks on the defendants’ bodies.
The court also admitted into evidence the statements made by the defendants during the investigation. The witness maintained that these statements were made voluntarily in the presence of a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council and were obtained in a controlled environment. The trial is scheduled to continue on November 16 for the cross-examination of the witness.
Conclusion
As the trial-within-trial proceeds, the court continues to weigh the evidence presented by the prosecution against the defendants’ pleas of innocence. Justice Abdulmalik has signaled the importance of the upcoming sessions, warning that the legal process must move forward as scheduled. Information regarding the defense’s specific counter-arguments or the full extent of the evidence remains subject to the ongoing judicial process.
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p class=”vbna-source-note”>Source: Daily Post Nigeria
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