Operatives of the Tactical Unit of the Imo State Police Command have raided a criminal hideout inside a forest located within Ihube in Okigwe council area of Imo State, killing six of the suspected criminals.
The recent raid is part of the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force to establish peace and public safety across the country.
In a statement issued in Owerri and endorsed by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters Abuja, he said that police operatives attached to the Imo State Police Command have achieved a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against terrorism with the neutralisation of three deadly terrorist kingpins associated with the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
He said that operatives from the Command’s Tactical Unit on Saturday launched a coordinated operation following credible intelligence aimed at locating and dislodging the terrorist hideouts.
The Force PPRO said upon approach, the operatives came under heavy fire from suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists but demonstrated exceptional courage and engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle.
The operation, according to him, resulted in the neutralisation of six members of the criminal group, with three being ESN kingpins identified as Ifeanyi Anayo a.k.a. Zuma De Rock, Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe a.k.a. Nmimi, and a 21-year-old Kingsley Sunday, all natives of Ogube, Ihube in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State.
Items recovered include five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), several communication equipment, along with eight operational motorcycles used by the group.
He said prior 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 killing of five policemen in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022, and the burning of Arondizuogu Police Station on February 8, 2022.
According to him, 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.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has commended the gallant operatives for their exceptional display of bravery and coordination.
The IGP charges police operatives across commands and formations to sustain the tempo and implement the Force’s action plan aimed at drastically reducing crimes in the first quarter of the year 2025.
He said that the Nigeria Police Force remains unyielding in its goal towards ensuring national security and public safety.
The IGP advised members of the public to remain vigilant and work collaboratively with the Nigeria Police Force to promote peace and ensure a safer environment for all citizens.
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