Police blame IPOB as gunmen kill female officer in Imo

The Imo state police command has accused the Eastern Security Network (ESN) of killing Chinyere Obialor, a female officer.

The ESN is an outfit of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Speaking to TheCable on Thursday, Michael Abattam, the public relations officer of the Imo police command, said Obialor was killed during a “fierce gun battle with the ESN”.

“We lost one of our officers, a female, in a fierce attack by the IPOB and their security wing known as Eastern Security Network (ESN),” he told TheCable.

“In the process of the gun battle, they abandoned one of their vehicles and ran. We are investigating the case to fish out the perpetrators.”

A witness who also spoke on the incident said Obialor was killed after gunmen ambushed police officers at Ihitte junction on Owerri-Aba road.

“She was killed in a gun battle when criminals ambushed them at Ihitte junction on Owerri-Aba road. She was from Mgbidi in Oru-west LGA of Imo state,” the source said.

“She was attached to the highway patrol team unit. The hoodlums abandoned their vehicles and took to their heels.”