TheCable

The police command in Imo says it has recovered arms and some vehicles after raiding a “terror” camp of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN), the group’s militia arm in the state. 

In a statement on Saturday, Michael Abattam, command’s spokesperson, said the proscribed group was carrying out criminal activities from the camp.

Abattam said police acted on a report that the group has a wing in a forest in Onicha, Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA.

“Following a credible information that, some members of the proscribed IPOB/ ESN terror group, its militia wing has made a forest at Onicha in Ezinihitte Mbaise local government area of Imo State of Imo State, their operational base where they go out to perpetrate heinous crimes which include terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery and killing of innocent citizens,” the statement reads.

“Based on this information, the ever combat-ready Imo Command’s tactical teams, having carried diligent surveillance of the criminal hideouts, on 18th January 2022 at about 1 pm, stormed the deadly terror camp.

“The hoodlums on sighting the police operatives open fire on them and the Police operatives swiftly returned the fire. In the fierce gun battle, one of the hoodlums was neutralised while others scampered into the adjoining bushes fatally injured with gunshot injuries.

“While searching the terror camp, the police operatives recovered the following exhibits which includes; one AK47 rifle with Forty (40) rounds of live ammunition, ten locally fabricated explosives devices, one Police hand grenade, two Toyota Highlander (SUV) Jeeps without registration numbers, one Lexus 350 SUV without registration number, one Lexus 330 SUV without registration number, two Biafran flags, different assorted Charms, assorted dresses suspected to belong to kidnapped/robbed victims.”

Commending the officers, Hussaini Rabiu, the police commissioner, thanked Imo people for their support.

Rabiu appealed to Imo residents not to allow criminals to use their community as a haven to perpetrate heinous crimes.

He also urged them to form vigilante groups or neighbourhood watch associations to help complement the efforts of the police and other security agencies in maintaining law and order in the state.