Following a gun confrontation between officers of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), three members of the outlawed organisation were reportedly killed.
CSP Micheal Abattam, spokesman for the Imo State Police Command, said on Wednesday that the command’s tactical teams stormed two identified terror camps in Okwudo in Njaba LGA of Imo State and Umuorji Mgbidi in Oru West LGA of Imo State respectively on Monday after credible intelligence gathering and surveillance of some identified terror camps in the state.
CSP Abattam went on to say that the police engaged the suspected ipob members in a fierce gun battle and, as a result of their size and firepower, were able to dislodge them.
According to him, the hoodlums incurred significant casualties, losing three of their colleagues in the process, while nine others were apprehended with varying degrees of bullet wounds.
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Those arrested include: Ekene Abiaziem age 31 years m of Mgbidi, Emmanuel Nwabueze m age 58 years of Mgbidi, Ifeanyi Eze m age 38 years of Mgbidi, Izunna Chukwukezie m age 39 years of Okwudo, Ejike Onuabuike m age 44 years of Okwudo, Chukwuebuka Elvis Nkonta m age 27 years of Okwudo, Jerohm Amaiah m 33 years of Okwudo, Chukwuebuka Nwachukwu m age 23 years of Okwudo and Chimobi Ogbonna m age 27 years of Awomama to the station.
The police recovered three automatic pump action firearms, four locally built handguns, twenty-one (21) rounds of live cartridges, and four locally made Improvised Explosives Devices while scouring the bush and searching the camps, according to the police spokeswoman.
Five sharpened cutlasses, five rounds of 7.62 mm live AK47 rifle ammo, four rounds of 5.56 mm live assault rifle ammunition, and one large rubber drum with substances presumed to be Indian hemp were among the other items seized from the Suspected Ipob members.
A large number of Ice Hard Drugs presumed to be “Mkpurumiri,” one live tortoise, assorted black charms, four Biafran flags, multiple Biafran/MASSOB Identity cards, three war axes, four Biafran berets, and varied phones were also taken from the IPOB members.
While the inquiry is underway, CSP Abattam stated that the three bodies have been deposited at the Federal Medical Center Mortuary in Owerri.
According to him, investigation have shown these arrested ipob members have been terrorizing the people of Imo State.
He went on to say that the arrested Ipob members are part of those who plan and carry out multiple reported acts of kidnapping and armed robbery, and that they have given useful statements and have offered to help the police apprehend other gang members who are currently on the run.
Meanwhile, CP Rabiu Hussaini, the Commissioner of Police for Imo Command, praised the officers and men for their bravery and quick action, but encouraged them to step up their efforts to apprehend the other criminals.
He also urged communities and vigilante groups to engage with the police and provide genuine information that would aid in the arrest of the fugitives.
Source: Channels TV.
