ESN commander killed as police raid IPOB camp in Imo

The police say it killed three suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), including the group’s commander in a firefight at Amaifeke, Orlu LGA of Imo state, on Saturday. 

Rabiu Hussaini, police commissioner, said this in a statement issued by Michael Abattam, police spokesperson in the state, on Sunday.

Hussaini said officers were mobilised 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 of them in the process and arrested two”.

“On 11/9/2021 at about 1230 hours, the command’s tactical teams immediately mobilised 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 LGA 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 duel, 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 LGA and two others — a.k.a, J.J and Dadawa both natives of Ohazara in Ebonyi state were neutralised.

“Emeka Sunday ‘M’ age 20 years of Anike in Ohazara LGA of Ebonyi State and Anthony Okeke ‘M’ age 44 years of Umuala Amaifeke Orlu LGA of Imo were arrested while others escaped into the bush with bullet wounds.

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

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

”Others items are 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,” he said.

“It is on good record that, this is the terror group that have been terrorising 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 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.”

The police commissioner said those arrested are giving useful information that is helping the command in its investigation.