The Imo State Police Command has killed a commander of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Also killed were two men believed to be ESN members.
The command’s spokesman, CSP Michael Abattam, in a press statement said the police received technical intelligence 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.
“The members of the terror group on sighting the police operatives in their hideout opened fire on them. The gallant and battle-ready tactical team 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 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 its surroundings, a native goat that had just been slaughtered with the blood drained into a container and rubbed on their bodies to fortify themselves against police bullet, was recovered alongside the following items, two locally fabricated General Purpose Machine Gun(GPMG), 16 Improvised Explosive Devices (I.E.Ds), one English made pump action gun, two locally made Pistols, 37 rounds of live cartridges, three Automatic Machine Guns kick starter, one Bomb detonator, three Automatic Guns connecting batteries, a big (box) 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 (stolen) or belonging to a kidnapped victim with GSM NUMBER 08034958267 pasted on it,” a statement from the spokesperson read.
Abattam said the group had 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 on 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 an investigation was ongoing and the suspects arrested were undergoing interrogation and had made useful statements that would aid the police in arresting other members of their gang including the ones that escaped with bullet wounds.
