A detachment of police personnel from the Imo State Police Command have reportedly killed some members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network in a crossfire during a raid on the secessionists group’s camp.
The camp, where the incident happened, on Friday, is located at Akata in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State.
Rabiu Hussaini, Imo State Commissioner of Police, made the disclosure in Owerri, the state capital.
The CP said that credible information by the Intelligence Unit of the Imo Command, revealed that a group suspected to be IPOB/ESN members were seen mobilising to attack police formations and government installations from their camp.
A team of police personnel from the Special Forces and tactical teams, led by the officer-in-charge of Operation Restore Peace, ACP Evans Shem, was dispatched to dislodge the group.
Michael Abattam, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, in a statement, said that on approaching the camp, the police team was attacked by members of the secessionist group.
The head of the IPOB/ESN group and others were neutralised in the encounter, the statement read.
According to it, items recovered from the scene include three improvised explosives devices, two pump action guns, nine cartridges, one locally made pistol and one Toyota Highlander SUV vehicle with registration number IMO DFB 535 LC.
It indicated that on their way back, unknown to police teams, the bandits reinforced and regrouped, using palm tree logs to block the exit paths in the bush.
“It was at the fourth blockade that the police teams came under heavy attack while removing the fourth palm tree log used in blocking the exit path.
“The bandits threw petrol bombs and improvised explosives devices at the police vehicles,” it read.
Stating that the police teams successfully dislodged the suspected IPOB/ESN group, the statement stressed that several of them were neutralised while others fled into the bush with bullets injuries.
However, it read that “Unfortunately, one of the police Hilux vehicle was burnt due to the petrol bombs thrown on it.”
Three police officers, said to have sustained bullet injuries, were rushed to the hospital. According to the statement, one of the injured security operatives died on the way.
The two other officers were said to be recuperating in a government hospital as of the time of filing this report.
