Five killed as Imo police neutralise gunmen in Oguta
Imo State Police Command has disclosed that its operatives killed five gunmen, suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) during a clash in the Oguta area, just as the security personnel reportedly recovered four live tortoises and other items from the gunmen.
According to the police command, the gun battle between its operatives and the hoodlums was at a newly-created camp at Izombe community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, CSP Michael Abattam, Friday, said that the clash occurred on Thursday evening, in the state.
“The Imo State Police Command’s Tactical Teams on 25/8/2022 at about 1630 hours, after diligent gathering of both technical intelligence and credible information on the clandestine activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPO) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Izombe, mobilized and raided the identified camp newly created by the hoodlums in Izombe community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
“The hoodlums who, on sighting the police operatives, engaged them in a gun battle, but were overwhelmed by the superior fire power of the gallant police operatives who positioned themselves professionally.
“During the fierce gun battle, the hoodlums suffered a huge casualty which resulted in them retreating, escaping into the bush with various degrees of bullet wounds.
“The operatives, after dislodging the hoodlums, moved in and conducted a thorough search of the camp where the following items: three (3) English made Pump Action Guns, One Hundred and Eighteen (118) GPMG ammunitions, Forty One (41) AK 47 live ammunition, Nineteen (19) G3 ammunitions, One (1) cut to size locally made double barrel, one locally made double barrel, Four (4) locally made Pistols, Four (4) locally made explosive devices, military uniforms, police uniforms, Biafra flags, four ESN caps, One (1) pair of Police boot, various types of hard drugs, some police accoutrements, Four (4) live tortoises, large quantities of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, and pieces of red cloths were recovered to the station.
“After the successful raid, the operatives, while leaving the hoodlums’ den, were ambushed some distance away by the hoodlums who engaged them in another gun duel.
“During the exchange of gun fire, the operatives were able to subdue the hoodlums and in the process Five (5) of them were neutralised.
“Unfortunately, three (3) police operatives sustained not life-threatening injuries and were taken to a government hospital where they were treated.
“The hoodlums realizing they had suffered a heavy defeat went for a reprisal attack in the villages, burning houses belonging to both serving and retired police officers and other security agencies.
“Furthermore, houses belonging to persons they suspect are informants to security agencies were equally burnt down.
“Meanwhile, the community has been fortified with enough police operatives and other security officers to protect lives and properties while, efforts are on top gear to arrest the fleeing suspects.”
The statement quoted the state Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, as commending the gallant officers and men, even as he appealed to the various communities in the state to form vigilante groups to complement the efforts of the police.
Barde, according to the statement, further urged the local hunters’ association to collaborate with security agencies by giving them information on criminal hideouts observed in the bushes, as he also appealed to communities to ‘report suspicious activities or any person observed treating bullet wounds to the nearest police station.’
