6th January, 2022
By Ikechukwu Iweajunwa/Owerri
The Imo state Police Command has reacted to the attack on the Ideato divisional headquarters by gunmen.
In a statement on Thursday night, the command’s spokesman, Mike Abbatam said the attack was repelled by the police tactical team.
The counter-attack, he said, forced the gunmen to scamper into the bush.
Abbatam confirmed that explosives were used by the gunmen and that detainees were freed.
He also confirmed the explosives destroyed the administrative office of the division, the office of the Divisional Police Officer, as well as the administrative desk.
Curiously, Abbatam claimed the damage was minimal.
He said no one died in the shootout.
“On 06/01/2022 at about 0230 hours, at Ideato South Police Station, some unknown gunmen came in their numbers, shooting sporadically, and threw an Improvised Explosive Devices (I.E.D) into the station.
“The hoodlums were immediately repelled by the command’s tactical team and the police operatives of the division and in the ensuing gun duel, the hoodlums were overwhelmed by the superior fire-power of the police.
“However, no life or arms was lost and the detonated (I.E.D) only caused minimal damage”, the PRO said.