Police Raid IPOB Camp In Imo And Killed ESN Commander

Police in a news briefing stated that it has killed three suspected members of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB), including the group’s commander in a gun battle at Amaifeke, Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State on Saturday. The Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Hussaini revealed this in a statement issued by Michael Abattam, police spokesperson in the state on Sunday.

CP Rabiu Hussaini said officers were mobilized to the camp of the IPOB members following an intelligence report that the group was planning to carry out attacks on police stations and government infrastructure.

The police commissioner said the group opened fire when they sighted the police but the gallant and battle ready tactical teams swiftly returned the fire, killing three members of ESN and arrested two in the process.

According to the words of Michael Abattam, Imo State police spokesperson; “On 11th September 2021 at about 12:30PM, the command’s tactical teams immediately mobilized and stormed the hideout of the terror group located in an uncompleted building in a valley at Essential Home popularly known as “Ngbuka” in Amaifeke Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State,” the statement reads.

“The members of the terror group on sighting the police operatives in their hideout opened fire on them. The gallant and battle ready tactical teams swiftly returned the fire. In the gun battle, three of the hoodlums namely Chidera Nnabuhe, the Orlu Sector Commander of IPOB/ESN a.k.a “Dragon” a native of Umuala Amaifeke in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State and two others namely,  J.J and Dadawa both natives of Ohazara in Ebonyi state were neutralized.

“Emeka Sunday, age 20 years old of Anike in Ohazara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and Anthony Okeke, age 44 years old of Umuala Amaifeke Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State were arrested while others escaped into the bush with bullet wounds.

“On searching the camp and its surroundings, a native goat that have just been slaughtered with the blood drained into a container and rub on their bodies to fortify themselves against police bullets was recovered”.

The police commissioner said weapons including two locally-fabricated general purpose machine guns, 16 improvised explosive devices, one pump-action gun, two locally-made pistols, 37 rounds of live cartridges and three automatic machine gun kickstarters were recovered from them.

”Other items recovered from them include one bomb detonator, three automatic guns connecting batteries, gun powder, charms, two Biafran flags, three bomb detonator remote control, GSM handsets and one black travelling bag containing male clothes suspected to have been robbed or belonging to a kidnapped victim with GSM NUMBER 08034958267 pasted on it,” Michael Abattam, Imo State police spokesperson stated.

“It is on good record that, this is the terror groups that have been terrorizing the good people of Orlu. And investigation revealed that, all the violent crimes including the high profile kidnappings and armed robberies that have been going on within Orlu axis were being masterminded by them.”

“Most of the members of the group has been in the wanted list of the Police for months especially, Chidera Nnabuhe a.k.a “Dragon”, the commander of Orlu Sector of IPOB/ESN,” he conclude.

However, the Imo State commissioner of police said those arrested are giving useful information that is helping the command in its investigation.