- The police spokesman said that ongoing operations were underway to locate the remaining suspects, including searches of nearby areas.
The Imo State Police Command thwarted an alleged attack by Eastern Security Network (ESN) members tied to IPOB.
According to the command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, the incident resulted in the fatality of one suspect.
Okoye shared the details with journalists, showcasing the suspect’s body and seized items at the Owerri headquarters.
The police recovered various items during the operation.
He said, “On October 29, 2024, around 6:30 PM, the Counter Terrorism Unit successfully thwarted an assault by suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists during a routine patrol on the Owerri/Aba Road, near Owerri Airport. Approximately ten assailants launched the attack from two vehicles but were repelled. In the confrontation, one suspect was neutralized, while others fled with injuries, abandoning their operational vehicle—a Mercedes Jeep with Lagos registration number AAA 101 GR.”
Okoye noted that the police recovered an AK-47 rifle, fifteen rounds of 9.62mm ammunition, an IPOB/ESN flag, and the abandoned vehicle. He added that ongoing operations were underway to locate the remaining suspects, including searches of nearby areas.
The State Commissioner, Aboki Danjuma, urged the public to report anyone seeking medical treatment for gunshot wounds, emphasizing the Command’s commitment to public safety.