One killed as police, ‘IPOB members’ clash in Imo

One person was killed and many weapons recovered from a six-man terror gang that attacked a police patrol team in Orlu, Imo State.

The police also recovered one AK 47 rifles, two pump action gun several rounds of ammunition and stolen Sienna car used by the hoodlums said to be members of the Eastern Security Network, the armed group of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

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Police spokesperson in Imo State, CSP Mike Abattam, said this in a statement in Owerri on Friday.

He saidon October 27, 2022 at about 9am, luck ran against a six-man terror gang, suspected to be IPOB members and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), who came in a Sienna vehicle with number plate, ABUJA-GWA 932 CQ, and attacked the police operatives while conducting stop and search duty along UBA Round About Orlu, Imo State.

He said, “The hoodlums who came prepared, shooting sporadically at the police operatives were shocked by the alertness and dexterity displayed by the gallant police operatives who responded swiftly, positioning themselves professionally.

“In the gun duel that ensued, the hoodlums were overwhelmed by the superior fire power of the police and in the process one of the hoodlums was neutralised while others escaped into the adjoining bushes with fatal bullet injuries abandoning their sienna vehicle, one AK-47 rifle with 15 rounds of live ammunition, two English made pump-action guns with 10 rounds of live catridges and assorted charms.

“All the abandoned items were recovered by the police operatives to the station. While the corpse was later removed from the scene and deposited at a nearby mortuary.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that, the Sienna vehicle used by the terror gang was snatched from its owner in Amurie Omanze in Isu Local Government Area of Imo State and it was reported at Njaba Police Station.

“However, the owner has been contacted to come with proof of ownership for the collection of his vehicle, while the Command’s tactical teams are working assiduously to arrest the fleeing suspects.”