Nigeria Police Force raids have found six suspected terrorists in Imo State with five AK-47 weapons, 552 rounds of live ammunition, improvised explosive devices, and at least eight motorcycles.
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, described three of the assailants as belonging to the banned Indigenous Peoples of Biafra/Eastern Security Networks in a statement released on Saturday.
He claimed they were taken into custody when members of the tactical team of the Imo Police Command conducted a concerted operation at their hiding places on Friday.
The police officers found the terrorists’ hiding place in a jungle in Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area, Adejobi said.
According to him, “the operatives came under heavy fire from the suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists but demonstrated exceptional courage and engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle” as they moved closer to the woodland.
“The operation resulted in the neutralisation of six members of the terrorist group, including three ESN kingpins, Ifeanyi Anayo a.k.a. Zuma De Rock (28), Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe a.k.a. Nmimi (22), and Kingsley Sunday (21)—all of whom were natives of Ogube, Ihube in Okigwe Local Government Area. Additionally, five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, IEDs, various communication devices, and eight operational motorcycles utilised by the group were recovered,” Adejobi said.
He pointed out that earlier investigations had connected the organisation to several high-profile incidents, such as the burning of the Arondizuogu Police Station on February 8, 2022, the attack on the Owerri Correctional Centre on April 5, 2021, and the murder of five police officers in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022.
According to the FPRO, the organisation was also implicated in several kidnappings, including those of four reverend nuns on August 21, 2022, four Chinese nationals on December 6, 2023, and WAEC employees on June 5, 2023.
“The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has commended the gallant operatives for their exceptional display of bravery and coordination,” he continued, urging the officers to maintain the pace and carry out the Force’s action plan, which aims to significantly reduce crimes in the first quarter of 2025.
“In its pursuit of maintaining public safety and national security, the Nigeria Police Force is unwavering. To maintain peace and make sure that everyone lives in a safer environment, the public is now asked to be watchful and cooperate with the Nigeria Police Force,” Adejobi added.
