Imo State Police Command announced the successful raid of a proscribed IPOB/ESN terrorist camp, codenamed “Mother Valley,” resulting in the neutralisation of two suspects and the seizure of over 300 improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The operation, conducted between February and March in the Orsu Local Government Area, involved a joint assault with military and other security agencies.
Police Commissioner Audu Bosso confirmed the operation during a briefing at the command headquarters in Owerri on Wednesday. He stated that operatives came under heavy fire from terrorists inside the camp but overcame the resistance with superior firepower. Beyond the substantial IED cache, which included gas cylinders and galvanised pipes, five expensive vehicles were recovered from the site.
The police chief detailed a broader security campaign across the state during the same period. Operators arrested 75 individuals for various crimes, including kidnapping and murder. Recoveries from separate operations included multiple AK-47 rifles, thousands of rounds of ammunition, three magazines, two locally manufactured pistols, one Beretta pistol, and six stolen motorcycles.
In a related incident on March 3, a separate IPOB/ESN assault on the ADAPALM state government facility in Ohaji/Egbema LGA was repelled. Suspects set fire to heavy machinery before engaging police in a shootout. One assailant was neutralised at the scene; others fled injured. That injured suspect later died in hospital, and his body was deposited at the Federal University Teaching Hospital mortuary.
On March 14, police on surveillance patrol encountered the same group again. After a gun battle, the suspects abandoned three AK-47 rifles, three magazines, and 65 rounds of live ammunition as they escaped with injuries.
Commissioner Bosso reported a significant reduction in the general crime wave across Imo State, leading to a safer environment for residents and visitors. He assured the public of heightened security deployments for the upcoming Eid-el-Fitr celebrations, particularly at worship centres and recreational areas, to ensure a hitch-free observance. He urged travellers to observe road safety and traffic regulations during the festive period.
The police chief concluded by calling on residents to provide the force with timely and credible intelligence to support ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks and maintain public order.
