By Michael Chukwuebuka, Reporting
OPERATIVES of the Imo State Police Command have killed five suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) in a fierce gun duel and recovered four live tortoises and other items.
The fierce gun battle between the police and the hoodlums was at a newly-created camp at Izombe, community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
This was disclosed on Friday in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, CSP Michael Abattam and obtained by Stonix News.
According to him, “the Imo State Police Command’s Tactical Teams on 25/8/2022 at about 1630 hours, after diligent gathering of both technical intelligence and credible information on the clandestine activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPO) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Izombe, mobilized and raided the identified camp newly created by the hoodlums in Izombe community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
“The hoodlums who, on sighting the police operatives, engaged them in a gun battle, but were overwhelmed by the superior fire power of the gallant police operatives who positioned themselves professionally.
“During the fierce gun battle, the hoodlums suffered a huge casualty which resulted in them retreating, escaping into the bush with various degrees of bullet wounds.
“The operatives, after dislodging the hoodlums, moved in and conducted a thorough search of the camp where the following items: three (3) English made Pump Action Guns, One Hundred and Eighteen (118) GPMG ammunitions, Forty One (41) AK 47 live ammunition, Nineteen (19) G3 ammunitions, One (1) cut to size locally made double barrel, one locally made double barrel, Four (4) locally made Pistols, Four (4) locally made explosive devices, military uniforms, police uniforms, Biafra flags, four ESN caps, One (1) pair of Police boot, various types of hard drugs, some police accoutrements, Four (4) live tortoises, large quantities of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, and pieces of red cloths were recovered to the station.
“After the successful raid, the operatives, while leaving the hoodlums’ den, were ambushed some distance away by the hoodlums who engaged them in another gun duel.
“During the exchange of gun fire, the operatives were able to subdue the hoodlums and in the process Five (5) of them were neutralised.
“Unfortunately, three (3) police operatives sustained not life-threatening injuries and were taken to a government hospital where they were treated.
“The hoodlums realizing they had suffered a heavy defeat went for a reprisal attack in the villages, burning houses belonging to both serving and retired police officers and other security agencies.
“Furthermore, houses belonging to persons they suspect are informants to security agencies were equally burnt down.
“Meanwhile, the community has been fortified with enough police operatives and other security officers to protect lives and properties while, efforts are on top gear to arrest the fleeing suspects.”
The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, as commending the gallant officers and men.
He, however, appealed to the various communities in the state to form vigilante groups to complement the efforts of the police.
He further called on the hunters association to collaborate with security agencies by giving them information on criminal hideouts observed in the bushes.
CP Barde, who reeled out the command’s emergency numbers to include 08034773600 or 08098880197, appealed to communities to “report suspicious activities or any person observed treating bullet wounds to the nearest police station,” or call the numbers.
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