A combined team of security operatives made up of the Nigeria Police Force, Armed Forces, Department of State Security Service, and Nigeria Civil Defence Corps has dismantled criminal hideouts responsible for incessant civil unrest in Ezioha, Eziama Autonomous Community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
The police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, on Sunday, said the operation led to the killing of four suspects, the arrest of five, and the recovery of various firearms and other items linked to the suspects.
In a statement, Okoye revealed that “The operation was made successful by the combined security outfits in their renewed effort to improve security and combat insurgency.”
He pointed out that the various security agencies, under the auspices of “Operation Udoka”, had strengthened their operations to dismantle criminal networks operating within the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma and other service commanders conducted an assessment of the ongoing operation in Ezioha, Eziama Autonomous Community aimed at targeting criminal hideouts responsible for violent attacks and kidnappings in the region.
The police spokesperson hinted that the operation leading to the dismantling of the suspect’s hideouts was followed by a protracted gunfight with the terrorists disclosing that eight motorcycles and several dangerous weapons including explosive devices and communication equipment linked to the suspects were recovered.
“The assessment, involved key security figures, including the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma; Brigadier General U.A. Lawal, Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze; Air Commodore David Bello, Commander NAF 211 Quick Response Group, Owerri; Naval Commander Oguta, Commodore MB Salisu; the DSS commander, the NSCDC commander, and the SSA to the Governor on Security Affairs, Brig. Gen. Joseph Ogbonna (retd.). They commended the professionalism of the joint security operatives and stressed the importance of public cooperation in aiding the fight against crime by providing valuable intelligence”.
The CP reassured the people that the security agencies were working in unison to protect the state and called on citizens to work in partnership with law enforcement agencies to ensure a peaceful and secure environment throughout the holiday season.
