No fewer than five suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), have been killed in a foiled attack on Agwa Police station in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
This was disclosed by spokesperson of the State Police Command, CSP Michael Abattam, in a statement on Wednesday night.
He said the hoodlums tried to attack the police station after they had burnt down Agwa Central Vigilante office.
“Sequel to the command’s determination to curb the menace of terrorism in the state, today, 18/01/2023, at about 1130hrs, in response to a distress call that hoodlums, suspected to be members of the Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), had attacked Agwa Central Vigilante Group, burning down their office and are proceeding to attack and set ablaze Agwa Police Station, both in Oguta LGA of Imo State, the combatant Command’s Tactical Teams swiftly mobilised to the area.
“Having been informed that the hoodlums had cordoned the station, the police operatives tactically manoeuvred their way into the station, joined the operatives of the division and professionally engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel, and in the process, three of the hoodlums were neutralised, while others scampered for safety into the adjoining bushes with various degrees of gunshot wounds, abandoning three of their operational vehicles”, Abattam said.
He said the operatives on combing the bush, “discovered two Pump Action guns, two Double Barrel guns, 24 rounds or live ammunition, 12 expended cartridges, one Improvised Explosive Device, three operational vehicles – one green coloured Lexus 470GL, one black coloured Toyota Highlander, one Oxblood coloured mini bus, two motorcycles, one iron box, one travelling bag and assorted charms.”
CSP Abattam said efforts were been made to arrest the fleeing suspects, while the corpses of their neutralised members have been evacuated and deposited in the mortuary.
