How IPOB members murdered Gulak in Imo – DSS witness tells court

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday heard damning testimonies about the murder of Ahmad Gulak, a former presidential aide, who was gruesomely killed in Imo State in 2021.

During the proceedings, the court was told that between 170 and 200 security personnel have lost their lives in the South-East due to violent activities linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

The prosecution also revealed that Radio Biafra, a controversial station allegedly operated by IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, was not licensed by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). The transmitter used to operate the station was reportedly smuggled into Nigeria without government authorization.

An official of the Department of State Services (DSS) made the depositions during his testimony as the fourth prosecution witness, in the ongoing terrorism trial of Kanu.

READ ALSO Shallipopi part ways with record label, gives reason

The witness, led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), told the court that one ESN member identified as Uzuoma Benjamin, aka Onye Army, spoke about how they allegedly received directives from Kanu to kill security agents and ensure that a deceased member of the group, Ikonso, was buried with 2000 human heads.

The DSS official said further investigation revealed that of the 2000 human heads sought to bury Ikonso, only 30 were eventually sourced.

The witness also read where the said Onye Army claimed that himself and other members of his group used the heads of 10 girls to prepare charms for their protection.

He said investigation revealed that the invasion of Owerri prison by IPOB members was directed by Kanu in one of his broadcast for his followers to attack and kill security operatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The witness said shortly after himself and members of his team recovered the transmitter from a premises in Ubuluisiuzor, Anambra State, and brought it to Abuja, the DSS wrote the NBC to inspect it.

The witness told the court that on November 9, 2015 the NBC sent an Engineer, who inspected the transmitter and wrote a report.

Awomolo then, tendered a certified true copy of the provisional assessment of radio transmitter report submitted by the NBC.

The witness was asked to read a portion of the report, which he did. He said the report indicated that the transmitter was a German made and that it was indeed a radio transmitter made for use on FM frequency.

The witness said the report also stated that such transmitter could only be procured and installed after being issued a licence and that the NBC has not licensed Radio Biafra to broadcast in Nigeria.

The DSS official added that investigation by his team revealed that for one to operate a radio station in the country, one must apply to a regulator, who will issue one a licence after due clearance by relevant security agencies.

The witness said “in this case (Kanu’s case) there was no application from the defendant, he brought th transmitter in illegally without approval.”

He also said investigation was confirmed that the defendant is the owner of the transmitter, which he kept in the premises of one Benjamin Madubugu.

The witness said Kanu later came into the country and inspected the transmitter and made a video to satisfy members of the IPOB, who contributed money for the purchase of the transmitter.

He also read from some publications of the Vanguard newspaper, where it was reported that an arrested commander of ESN confessed to the activities of his group.

He said when the DSS requested from the police to access Onye Army, the police claimed he had escaped from custody.

He said during one of DSS’ agents’ raid of ESN members’ hideout, “we saw some ESN members, about seven, with human heads and some eating human flesh, which they said was for spiritual fortification.

“We could not find Onye Army. The police said he had escaped from custody.”

He said there are records about the number of security agents allegedly killed in the South East and that the number stands between 170 and 200.

The witness who said two DSS officials, including his driver, were among the victims, said the cut across all security agencies.

On how the ESN members operate, the witness said they are combatants, who carry arms and attacked homes of prominent individuals and traditional rulers in the region.

He said because they lacked sufficient operational tools, they sometimes set up roadblocks during which they hijack vehicles for their operation.

The witness identified some public property which he said IPOB and ESN members attacked and destroyed in the South East, including police stations.

On how Gulak died, the witness said he was among the first responders to the scene where the late politician was killed and his corpse recovered.

He said on May 30, 2021 there was a total breakdown of law and order, as a result of the stay at home order declared by the defendant, through one of his broadcasts.

The witness said later that day one of his officers informed him that a prominent politician was killed around Obiagwu and that when they got to the spot, they saw what happened .

He said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area told him that Gulak was in a hired cab when he was killed by IPOB some members.

The witness said the driver told him that they were heading to the airport from Owerri town, when they saw a check point mounted by men of the Nigerian Air Force who were preventing people from accessing the airport, but decided to take another route where they ran into a check point by IPOB members.

He added that the driver further said the IPOB members ordered the three of them in the car to disembark, and demanded to know their tribes.

He said the driver told him he introduced himself as an Igbo person and that Gulak also said he was an Igbo man. But that while he (the driver) could speak the Igbo language when they were asked to speak in Igbo, Gulak could not, following which they asked him to remove his cap and saw a Muslim prayer marked on his forehead.

The witness said the driver added that upon seeing the prayer marked, one of the IPOB members said “he is one of them,” following which they shot and killed him.

The DSS official , who said he served In Imo State between 2019 and 2023 told the court that the deceased’s corpse was evacuated from the spot where he was killed in his (the witness’) car

Under cross examination by defence lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), the witness said there is no record of the importation of the transmitter said to have been smuggled in to the country by Kanu.

He said he could not say when the transmitter was brought into the country, but that he was among those who located where it was kept in Anambra State and brought it to the DSS headquarters in Abuja.

When asked if he was aware that Radio Biafra was registered in London and broadcast from there, the witness said when Kanu was arrested in Lagos in 2016 he was arrested with his broadcast equipment.

He said he was not present when the defendant was arrested in Lagos and that all he said about his arrest in Lagos was what were relayed to him.

(DailyTrust)