The Imo State Police Command announced on Wednesday that it repelled an attack allegedly orchestrated by members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), affiliated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), resulting in the death of one suspect.
State Police Public Relations Officer Henry Okoye briefed journalists at the command’s headquarters in Owerri, displaying the body of the deceased suspect and items recovered from the incident.
According to the police statement, the incident occurred on October 29, 2024, at around 6:30 PM. Officers from the Counter Terrorism Unit encountered a group of about ten suspected IPOB/ESN members who launched an attack on the patrol team along the Owerri/Aba Road near Owerri Airport.
The assailants, traveling in two vehicles, were repelled in the ensuing confrontation.
One suspect was neutralized, while the others escaped with injuries, abandoning a Mercedes Jeep with Lagos registration number AAA 101 GR.
Recovered items included an AK-47 rifle, fifteen rounds of 9.62mm ammunition, an IPOB/ESN flag, and the abandoned vehicle.
The police have intensified efforts to locate the remaining suspects, including a search of nearby areas.
Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma urged residents to report any individual seeking treatment for gunshot wounds, emphasizing the Command’s commitment to public safety.