19th January, 2023
Three gunmen alleged to be members of Eastern Security Network, the militant wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB have been shot dead in a gun battle with the police in Agwa, Oguta Imo State.
The ESN members were shot dead as they were trying to set a police station in the area ablaze.
This was after they had successfully burned the office of the vigilante group in the community, spokesperson for the Imo State Command, Mr Michael Abatham, said in a statement.
Aside the three dead ESN operatives, the Police spokesperson said two pump Action guns, two double barrel guns, 24 rounds or live ammunition 12 expended cartridges and one Improvised Explosive Device were recovered after the gun battle.
Also recovered in the bush combing operation by the police after the gun battle were three operational vehicles, two motorcycles, travelling bag, assorted charms among others.
Abatham said police have launch a manhunt for other members of the gang who escaped during the gun battle.
The statement by the police spokesperson read, “Sequel to the command’s determination to curb the menace of terrorism in the state, today 18/01/2023 at about 1130hrs, in response to a distress call that, hoodlums suspected to be members of the Proscribed Indegeneous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate Eastern Security Network (ESN) had attacked Agwa Central Vigilante Group, burning down their office and are proceeding to attack and set ablaze Agwa Police Station both in Oguta LGA of Imo State, the combatant Command’s Tactical Teams swiftly mobilized to the area.
“Having been informed that the hoodlums had cordoned the station, the police operatives tactically manoeuvred their way into the station joined the operatives of the division and professionally engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel, and in the process three of the hoodlums were neutralized while others scampered for safety into the adjoining bushes with various degrees of gunshot wounds, abandoning three of their operational vehicles.
“The operatives on combing the bush, the following Items were recovered : (1) two (2) Pump Action guns, (2) two (2) Double Barrel guns, (3) twenty four (24) rounds or live ammunition, (4) twelve (12) expended cartridges,(5) one (1) Improvised Explosive Device, (6) three (3) operational vehicles – one green coloured Lexus 470GL, one black coloured Toyota Highlander, one Oxblood coloured mini bus, (6) two (2) motorcycles, (7) one (1) iron box, (8) one (1) travelling bag and assorted charms.
“Investigation is in progress; the gallant operatives are not relenting in their efforts to arrest the fleeing members of the terrorist group.
“Meanwhile, the corpses of the hoodlums have been evacuated and deposited in the mortuary while, efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects are on top gear since they cannot go far due to the various degrees of bullet injuries, they sustained in the gun duel. The police operatives who sustained minor bullet injury was rushed to the hospital for treatment and he is in a stable condition.
“The Command is using this medium to call on the good people of the State to collaborate with the Police and other Security Agencies in the fight against terrorism and to report any suspicious activities or person(s) seen treating gunshot wound within their community to the nearest police station or call the command’s emergency numbers 08034773600 or 08098880197.”