A Department of State Services (DSS) investigator has given a detailed account of how intelligence operations led to the arrest of four suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over the alleged abduction and murder of the agency’s operative, Ekpenyong Owoh.
Testifying before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, the investigator, appearing as the prosecution’s first witness under the codename AAA, alleged that Owoh was intercepted while travelling from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Awka, Anambra State, taken to an Eastern Security Network (ESN) camp and subsequently shot dead.
The four defendants are Michael Okafor, also known as Onyechimeleze; Chinedu Chukwudozie, alias Kante; Chibunna Olisa; and Chigozie Olisa, also known as Ability.
They were arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on September 28 on six counts bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, unlawful possession of firearms and membership of the proscribed IPOB and its armed wing, ESN.
All four defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Munirat Oladunjoye, the DSS investigator said he had served in the agency for approximately 17 years.
He told the court that investigations commenced in February 2022 after Owoh’s wife reported his disappearance to the DSS Anambra Command.
According to the witness, Owoh had left Port Harcourt for Awka but never arrived at his destination.
A technical examination of his movements allegedly revealed that his last known location was Orsumoghu in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. His Toyota Pontiac vehicle was also traced to the community.
The investigator said the DSS subsequently partnered with the military to investigate the disappearance because the area was believed to be a stronghold of IPOB and ESN.
He disclosed that the breakthrough came following the arrest of a woman, Chinyere Okabue, on June 20, 2026, whose interrogation allegedly provided intelligence that helped investigators identify and apprehend the suspects.
Okafor, whom the witness described as the principal suspect and an ESN sub-commander, was arrested on September 14, while the other three defendants were picked up on September 20.
Recounting the alleged circumstances of the killing, the investigator said Owoh had spoken with his wife on February 23, 2022, informing her that he intended to return home to see their newborn baby.
However, he allegedly fell into the hands of the defendants, who intercepted and took him to an ESN camp.
The witness further alleged that Chibunna Olisa drove Owoh’s vehicle into the camp, where the operative was detained before an ESN commander identified as Double Lion allegedly instructed Okafor to execute him.
“He was shot several times and buried in a shallow grave,” the investigator told the court.
In another revelation, AAA alleged that the four defendants bore an identification mark bearing the number 1414, which he said was associated with ESN membership and provided protection to those who carried it.
Following the testimony, Justice Abdulmalik directed the defendants to approach the court individually and remove their clothes to allow the prosecution witness and defence counsel to inspect the alleged marks.
The investigator and defence lawyers, K.C. Ekwe and G.U. Oputa, reportedly confirmed their presence.
The witness also alleged that following Owoh’s death, Okafor took possession of his Toyota Pontiac vehicle and subsequently gave the operative’s mobile phone to his girlfriend, Chinyere, as a gift.
He said Chinyere was later granted administrative bail after investigators concluded that she had no knowledge of the alleged abduction and murder.
The investigator further told the court that Okafor had travelled to Côte d’Ivoire and India, where he was allegedly involved in criminal activities before being deported around 2024.
Upon his return to Nigeria, he allegedly went underground and worked as a bricklayer in Azia, Ihiala Local Government Area, until intelligence-led operations eventually led to his arrest.
AAA maintained that all four defendants voluntarily made statements to investigators in the presence of a Legal Aid Council lawyer.
He said they were informed of their constitutional rights, including the option to remain silent and the possibility that their statements could be used as evidence against them.
According to him, the statements were obtained in a relaxed, air-conditioned environment, and the defence lawyers raised no objections to their admissibility.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently admitted the statements in evidence and marked them as Exhibit TWT-5 Series.
The judge adjourned the proceedings until November 16 for the cross-examination of the witness and continuation of the trial-within-trial.
She also cautioned the defence lawyers that failure to appear on the next date could result in them forfeiting their opportunity to cross-examine the witness.