Police kill IPOB sector commander, two others in Imo

The Police in Imo State has killed the Orlu sector commander of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN), identified as Chidera Nnabuhe (aka Dragon), a native of Umuala Amaifeke Orlu of the state.

The Police also shot dead two other members of his command identified as JJ and Dadawa, both natives of Ohazora in Ebonyi State.

Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Hussiani Rabiu, disclosed this to newsmen in Owerri on Sunday through the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Michael Abatham.

He added that the suspects were killed during a gun duel when the police raided major IPOB/ESN camps at Amaifeke Orlu in Orlu LGA.

Rabiu said after a diligent gathering of technical intelligence, the members of the IPOB/ESN members were sighted in an isolated and uncompleted building situated in a valley in Amaifeke in Orlu LGA of Imo State.

He said the command’s tactical teams immediately mobilised and stormed the hideout of the group located in an uncompleted building in a valley at Essential Home popularly known as “NGBUKA”.

The CP said that on sighting the police operatives in their hideout, the IPOB members opened fire and the police officers returned the fire.

Rabiu said that a 20-year-old Emeka Sunday of Anike in Ohazara LGA of Ebonyi State and 44-year-old Anthony Okeke of Umuala Amaifeke Orlu LGA of Imo were arrested while others escaped into the bush with bullet wounds.

The CP added that on searching the camp and its surroundings, a native goat that had just been slaughtered with the blood drained into a container and rub on their bodies to fortify themselves against police bullet was recovered alongside the other items.

Items recovered from the scene included two locally fabricated General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), 16 Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs), one English made pump action gun, two locally made pistols, 37 rounds of live cartridges, three Automatic Machine Guns, AMG kick-starter, one bomb detonator, three automatic guns connecting batteries, a bag containing gun powder, charms; two Biafran flags; three bomb detonator remote control; six different makes of GSM handsets and a black travelling bag containing male clothes suspected to have been robbed or belonging to a kidnapped victim with GSM NUMBER 08034958267 pasted on it.

“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,” the CP said.

He disclosed that most of the members of the group had been on the wanted list of the Police for months especially Nnabuhe, the commander of Orlu Sector of IPOB/ESN.

The CP said that the investigation was ongoing and the suspects arrested were undergoing interrogation and had made useful statements that would aid the police in arresting other members of their gang including the ones that escaped with bullet wounds.

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