Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have killed a commander in the IPOB security outfit, Eastern Security Network, and two others during a gunbattle in Orlu local government area of Imo state.
A statement released by the spokesperson of the state police command, CSP Michael Abattam, said they were arrested following technical intelligence.
He said the intelligence revealed that “members of the proscribed IPOB/ ESN were sighted in an isolated uncompleted building situated in a valley in Amaifeke in Orlu LGA of Imo State, 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 mobilized 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. ”
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.
Other items recovered are “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.” a statement from the spokesperson read
The spokesperson added that the group has been terrorizing 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.
The Police said 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.
