Police operatives in Imo have killed six suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the state.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
Adejobi said police operatives attached to the Imo State Police Command’s tactical Unit launched a coordinated operation on the terrorists’ hideout in a forest within Ihube in the Okigwe local government area of the state on January 24.
He said: “Upon approach, the operatives, who came under heavy fire from suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists, demonstrated exceptional courage and engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle.
“The operation resulted in the neutralisation of six members of the terrorist group, with three being ESN kingpins identified as Ifeanyi Anayo a.k.a. Zuma De Rock, 28; Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe a.k.a. Nmimi, 22; and Kingsley Sunday, 21; all natives of Ogube, Ihube in Okigwe Local Government Area.
“Five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), communication equipment along with eight operational motorcycles used by the group were recovered from the scene.
“Investigations had revealed the involvement of the group in several high-profile crimes, including the attack on the Owerri Correctional Center on April 5, 2021.
“The terrorists were also involved in the killing of five policemen in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022, and the burning of Arondizuogu Police Station on February 8, 2022.
“The group was also involved in multiple kidnappings, including those of WAEC staff on June 5, 2023, four reverend sisters on August 21, 2022, and four Chinese nationals on December 6, 2023.”