Police kill three, arrest two IPOB members in Imo

The Imo State Police Comman has announced it killed three and arrested two suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) security outfit, Eastern Security Network, in a gun battle in an uncompleted building situated in a valley in Amaifeke, Orlu.

A statement released by the spokesperson of the state police command, CSP Michael Abattam, o Sunday announced the development.

According to the statement, the police received intelligence that members of the proscribed IPOB/ ESN members were sighted in the isolated uncompleted building planning to resume terror attacks on police formations and government installations in the state.

Abattam stated that on September 11, the command’s tactical teams mobilised and stormed the hideout out of the group located in an uncompleted building in a valley at Essential Home popularly known as ” NGBUKA” in Amaifeke Orlu LGA of Imo State.

”The members of the terror group on sighting the police operatives in their hideout opened fire on them. The gallant and battle-ready tactical teams swiftly returned the fire. In the gun duel, three of the hoodlums namely Chidera Nnabuhe, the Orlu Sector Commander of IPOB/ ESN a.k.a “DRAGON”, a native of Umuala Amaifeke in Orlu LGA and two others with a.k.a, J.J and Dadawa both natives of Ohazara in Ebonyi state were neutralised. Emeka Sunday ‘M’ age 20 years of Anike in Ohazara LGA of Ebonyi State and Anthony Okeke ‘M’ age 44 years of Umuala Amaifeke Orlu LGA of Imo were arrested while others escaped into the bush with bullet wounds,” the statement read.

“On searching the camp and it’s surroundings, a native goat that have just been slaughtered with the blood drained into a container and rub on their bodies to fortify themselves against police bullet was recovered alongside the following items, two locally fabricated General Purpose Machine Gun(GPMG) , Sixteen Improvised Explosives Devices (I.E.Ds), one English made pump action gun, two locally made Pistols, thirty – seven rounds of live cartridges, three Automatic Machine Guns kick starter , one Bomb detonator, three Automatic Guns connecting batteries, a big containing Gun Powder, Charms , two Biafran Flags, three bomb detonator remote control, six different makes of GSM handsets, a black travelling bag containing male clothes suspected to have been robbed or belonging to a kidnapped victim with GSM NUMBER 08034958267 pasted on it.”

The spokesperson added that the group has been terrorising the good people of Orlu. He said an investigation revealed that all the violent crimes including the high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies that have been going within Orlu axis were being masterminded by them. According to Abattam, most of the members of the group have been in the wanted list of the Police for months especially, Chidera Nnabuhe a.k.a ” DRAGON”, the commander of Orlu Sector of IPOB/ ESN.

“Investigation is ongoing and the suspects arrested are presently undergoing interrogation and have made useful statements that will aid the police in arresting other members of their gang including the ones that escaped with bullet wounds,” the statement added.

The Commissioner of Police, commended the officers for the brave and proactive step to curbing insecurity.

He expressed his appreciation to the residents and citizens of the state for their unalloyed support and pleaded that they support the police with credible information to enforce smart policing and easier interception of criminal elements.