Imo State Police Command has killed suspected member of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) during a gun battle in a forest at Onicha in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of the state. The command spokesman, CSP Michael Abattam said on Saturday that the police operatives having carried diligent surveillance of the criminal hideouts, on 18/1/2022 at about 1300 hours, stormed the deadly terror camp.

On sighting the operatives, he said the hoodlums opened fire on them. But the gallant police operatives swiftly returned fire. In the process one of them was neutralised while others escaped with bullet wounds. The statement reads in part: “Following a credible information that, some members of the proscribed IPOB/ ESN terror group, its militia wing has made a forest at Onicha in Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA of Imo State, their operational base where they go out to perpetrate heinous crimes which includes terrorism,  kidnapping, armed robbery and killing of innocent citizens .

Based on this information, the ever combat ready Imo Command’s tactical teams, having carried diligent surveillance of the criminal hideouts, on 18/1/2022 at about 1300 hours, stormed the deadly terror camp. The hoodlums on sighting the police operatives open fire on them. The gallant and battle ready Police operatives swiftly returned the fire. In the fierce gun battle, one of the hoodlums was neutralised while others scampered into the adjoining bushes fatally injured with gunshot injuries.

He said items recovered on combing the bush and searching the terror camp include one AK47 rifle with 40 rounds of live ammunition, 10 locally fabricated explosives devices, One Police hand grenade, Two Toyota Highlander (SUV) Jeeps without registration numbers, One Lexus 350 SUV without registration number, One Lexus 330 SUV without registration number, two Biafran flags, different assorted charms, and assorted dresses suspected to belong to kidnapped/robbed victims.