IPOB Militants Killed as Troops Foil Attacks on Police Stations in Imo
Nigerian troops, involving the military and the police last night eliminated gunmen suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) secessionist group.
PRNigeria gathered that the slain gunmen and their colleagues were travelling to Orlu town in a convoy of ‘stolen vehicles’ to attack some police stations.
But they met their ‘gruesome end’ when they were engaged by security men.
The IPOB secessionists had initially sent a notice to some of their members of their plan to attack some Police Stations in the state.
An intelligence officer told PRNigeria that some of the gunmen were involved in previous attacks on security facilities in the state. He added after their communication were intercepted, the troops stage the ambush in confronting them before accomplishing their mission.
“The gunmen, who believed in the power of their charms, were overpowered when the troops including soldiers, policemen and other security operatives engaged them in a battle. While some of them were killed, others escaped with grievous injury from the exchange of gunfire. We also recovered all the stolen vehicles they used for their operations.
“In the last one month, the gunmen have attacked several police stations and killed dozens of security personnel for no reason. We are able to identify them as members of IPOB from their ID cards and other incriminating items recovered from them.
“Some of them were involved in previous coordinated attacks using machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades when they targeted a prison and police facilities and freed the inmates were while carting away arms and ammunition in the process,” a senior intelligence officer narrated.
The corpses of the IPOB members, recovered vehicles and sophisticated weapons were taken to the Police Command in Owerri, the state capital.
By PRNigeria
Meanwhile, the newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Imo State, CP Abutu Yaro has addressed the press on the latest development.
Below is his remarks at a Press Briefing
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PRESS BRIEFING BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, IMO STATE COMMAND CP ABUTU YARO fdc HELD ON THE 7TH MAY 2021.
Recall that I took over duty as the Commissioner of Police Imo State Command yesterday being 06/5/2021 and during my inaugural briefing, I told Imolities that we shall occupy the public space, and also restrategise to ensure crime and criminality is reduced to its bearest minimum.
I also informed you that we shall do everything within our powers to ensure that Imolites sleep with both eyes closed.
To this end, I want to let you know that we have hit the ground running and I wish to showcase to you a case of what you people call the “Unknown Gun Men” who go about attacking Police Stations and other Formations.
ATTACK ON ORLU AREACOMMAND/DIVISIONAL POLICE HEADQUARTERS AND ORLU METROPOLIS
On the 6/5/2021 a group of Bandits attempted to attack the Divisional Police and Area command Headquarters both in Orlu LGA , but were successfully repelled. However, the operatives IGP Response Team (IRT) in conjunction with the special forces and other tactical Teams of the Command, engaged them in a shootout and in a bid to retreat and escape they met the reinforcement teams from the Military and DSS, they were then engaged from on both fronts.
After the gun duel, nine of the insurgents lost their lives while others fled with bullets wounds abandoning their operational vehicles in the process.
However, four (4) of our operatives sustained various degree injuries and are presently responding to treatment.
The hoodlums were seen in a viral video around Orlu Metropolis stealing and forcefully collecting items from people, and also causing public disorder and brandishing assorted types of rifles with brazen bravado.
They are reasonably believed to be part of the hoodlums that attacked the Police Headquarters and the Correctional Service on the 5th of April 2021.
Meanwhile, below are the items recovered :
1. Four (4) AK 47 Rifles
2. One (1) Pump Action
3. Two (2) Toyota Siena
4. One (1) Toyota Camry Car
5. One (1) Toyota Hilux Van
6. One (1) SUV Highlander
7. One (1) SUV Land Rover
8. One (1) Nissan Pick up Van
9. Assorted Charms .
