Police nab six suspected terrorists in Imo, recover weapons
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have recovered five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, improvised Explosive Devices and no fewer than eight motorcycles from six suspected terrorists in Imo State.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said three of the attackers were members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra/Eastern Security Networks.
He said they were arrested on Friday when operatives of the Imo Police Command’s tactical unit launched a coordinated operation at their hideouts.
According to Adejobi, the police operatives located the terrorists’ hideout in a forest within Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area of the state.
He said upon approaching the forest, “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.”
“The operation resulted in the neutralisation of six members of the terrorist group, with three being ESN kingpins identified as Ifeanyi Anayo a.k.a. Zuma De Rock (28), Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe a.k.a. Nmimi (22), and Kingsley Sunday (21)—all natives of Ogube, Ihube in Okigwe Local Government Area, and the recovery of five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, IEDs, several communication equipment, along with eight operational motorcycles used by the group,” Adejobi stated.
He noted that prior investigations had linked the group to several high-profile crimes, including the attack on the Owerri Correctional Centre 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.
“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,” the FPRO said.
He added that “the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has commended the gallant operatives for their exceptional display of bravery and coordination,” charging the officers to sustain the tempo and implement the Force’s action plan aimed at reducing crimes drastically in the first quarter of the year 2025.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains unyielding in its goal towards ensuring national security and public safety. Members of the public are hereby urged to remain vigilant and work collaboratively with the Nigeria Police Force to promote peace and ensure a safer environment for all citizens,” Adejobi further stated.
