The tactical unit of the Imo State Police Command has successfully neutralized three high-ranking members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed faction of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In a statement issued on Saturday in Owerri, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed that the operation was carried out on January 24 following credible intelligence.
According to Adejobi, the police launched a coordinated assault on the group’s hideout located in a forest within Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area.
The operatives, who faced intense gunfire upon arrival, demonstrated exceptional bravery in a fierce confrontation, resulting in the elimination of six ESN members, including three kingpins.
The neutralized leaders were identified as 28-year-old Ifeanyi Anayo, also known as Zuma De Rock; 22-year-old Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe, alias Nmimi; and 21-year-old Kingsley Sunday. All three hailed from Ogube, Ihube in Okigwe Local Government Area.
The operation also led to the recovery of significant arms and equipment, including five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), communication tools, and eight motorcycles used by the group.
Adejobi highlighted the group’s involvement in numerous criminal activities, including the attack on the Owerri Correctional Center on April 5, 2021.
They were also implicated in the killing of five police officers in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022, and the arson attack on the Arondizuogu Police Station on February 8, 2022.
The group was further linked to high-profile kidnappings, including the abduction of WAEC officials on June 5, 2023, four reverend sisters on August 21, 2022, and four Chinese nationals on December 6, 2023.
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun commended the operatives for their gallantry and urged police commands across the country to maintain the momentum in combating crime, particularly during the first quarter of 2025.
He reaffirmed the police force’s commitment to national security and public safety.
Members of the public were encouraged to remain vigilant and cooperate with the police to foster peace and security nationwide.