Operatives of the Imo State Police Command on Thursday, October 27 repelled an attack unleashed on them at a stop-and-search point in Orlu town in the state.
The command’s spokesman, CSP Michael Abattam disclosed this in a statement dated Friday, October 28.
Abattam added that its operatives however neutralized one of the attackers during a gun duel that ensued while five others fled with fatal bullet wounds into the surrounding bushes.
The spokesman for the police in the state reeled out items recovered from the fleeing hoodlums to include a Sienna bus and one AK47 rifle with fifteen (15) rounds of live ammunition.
Others recovered from the suspects are two (2) English made Pump Action guns with ten (10) rounds of live catridges and assorted charms.
Abattam also disclosed that preliminary investigation revealed that the.miscreants snatched the Sienna vehicle they used in the operation from its owner in Amurie Omanze in Isu Local Government Area of the state.
The police spokesman said the police are working round the clock to round up the fleeing suspects.
He stated that the police were poised to ensure a crime-free yuletide celebration in the state.
The statement reads in part; “When on 27/10/2022 at 0900hrs, luck ran against a six-man terror gang, suspected to be members of the Proscribed Indegeneous People of Biafra’s (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), who came in a sienna vehicle with registration number ABUJA-GWA 932 CQ, and attacked the police operatives while conducting stop and search duty along UBA Round About Orlu, Imo State.
“The hoodlums who came prepared, shooting sporadically at the police operatives were shocked by the alertness and dexterity displayed by the gallant police operatives who responded swiftly, positioning themselves professionally.
“In the gun duel that ensued, the hoodlums were overwhelmed by the superior fire power of the police and in the process one of the hoodlums was neutralised while others escaped into the adjoining bushes with fatal bullet injuries abandoning their sienna vehicle, one AK47 rifle with fifteen (15) rounds of live ammunition, two (2) English made Pump Action guns with ten (10) rounds of live catridges and assorted charms.
“All the abandoned items were recovered by the police operatives to the station. While the corpse was later removed from the scene and deposited at a nearby mortuary.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that, the sienna vehicle used by the terror gang was snatched from its owner in Amurie Omanze in Isu Local Government Area of Imo State and it was reported at Njaba Police Station.
“However, the owner has been contacted to come with proof of ownership for the collection of his vehicle.
“While the command’s Tactical Teams are working assiduously to arrest the fleeing suspects”.
