The Imo State Police Command on Tuesday said security operatives had driven out Eastern Security Network agents from their camp in the Ubah Ages/Izombo tropical forest in Oguta Local Government Area of the state.
A statement signed by the spokesperson of the command, Henry Okoye,
reads: “ [We acted] on carefully gathered actionable intelligence that members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia affiliate (ESN), whose modus operandi is guerilla-like operation, that is, they unleash surprise terror attacks and go into hiding in their criminal hideout, have once again reassembled and formed a camp in Ubah Agwa/Izombe tropical rain forest in Oguta LGA of Imo State.
“The hoodlums opened fire when they saw police operatives but were driven back by the operatives’ superior firepower and skilful use of positional shooting that forced them to run with varying degrees of bullet wounds.”
Okoye asserted that a concerted operation is in high gear to catch the fleeing suspects
The statement further revealed: “Three automatic pump-action guns, 31 live rounds of ammunition, 59 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, one police hand grenade, IPOB/ESN insignia, blue and black police uniforms, police cap, police belt, military camouflage uniforms, black Tiger 150 motorcycle, red Daylong motorcycle, black KYMCO motorcycle, silver Honda Lady’s motorcycle and black travel bag were discovered in the dislodged terrorist camp and shrine.”
While praising police officers and soldiers involved in the operation for their bravery, Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ahmed Barde directed operatives of the Imo State Police Command to continuously raid criminal hideouts and seize illegal weaponry.
He expressed gratitude to Imo citizens for their steadfast support and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to eradicating crime and criminality in the state.
“Well-meaning citizens of the state are urged to be cautious of the people who live in their communities and to report any person spotted with or treating bullet wounds to the local police station or by calling the command’s emergency numbers, 0803773600 or 08098880197,” he stated.
