By Ibe Pascal Arogorn
Imo State Police command has bursted camp of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra (iPOB’) in Izombie community, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
The operatives also neutralized five members of the outlawed group.
Recall that gunmen on Thursday evening stormed Izombie community and set many houses and shops in fire.
In a statement by Mike Abattam, the police spokesperson in Imo, he said three policemen sustained minor injuries in the raid.
Abattam also revealed that the hoodlums were responsible for burning of many shops and houses after the police engaged them.
The statement reads, “the Imo State Police Command’s Tactical Teams on 25/8/2022 at about 1630 hours, after diligent gathering of both technical intelligence and credible information on the clandestine activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPO) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Izombe, mobilized and raided the identified camp newly created by the hoodlums in Izombe community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
“The hoodlums who on sighting the police operatives engaged them in a gun battle but were overwhelmed by the superior fire power of the gallant police operatives who positioned themselves professionally. During the fierce gun battle, the hoodlums suffered a huge casualty which resulted to them retreating, escaping into the bush with various degrees of bullet wounds.
“The operatives after dislodging the hoodlums moved in and conducted a thorough search of the camp where the following items: three (3) English made Pump Action Guns, One Hundred and Eighteen (118) GPMG ammunitions, Fourty One (41) AK 47 live ammunition, Ninteen (19) G3 ammunitions, One (1) cut to size locally made double barrel, one locally made double barrel, Four (4) locally made Pistols, Four (4) locally made explosive devices, military uniforms, police uniforms, Biafra flags, four ESN caps, One (1) pair of Police boot, various types of hard drugs, some police accoutrements, Four (4) live tortoise, large quantities of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, and pieces of red cloths were recovered to the station.
“After the successful raid, the operatives while leaving the hoodlums’ den were ambushed some distance away, by the hoodlums who engaged them in another gun duel. During the exchange of gun fire, the operatives were able to subdue the hoodlums and in the process Five (5) of them were neutralised. Unfortunately, three (3) police operatives sustained not life threatening injuries and were taken to a government hospital where they were treated.
“The hoodlums realizing they have suffered a heavy defeat went for a reprisal attack in the villages, burning houses belonging to both serving and retired police officers and other security agencies. Furthermore, houses belonging to persons they suspect are informants to security agencies were equally burnt down.
“Meanwhile, the community has been fortified with enough police operatives and other security officers to protect lives and properties while, efforts are on top gear to arrest the fleeing suspects.
“The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, psc(+) commended the officers and men for their gallantry and appealed to the various communities in the State to form vigilante groups to complement the efforts of the police. He further called on the Hunters Association to collaborate with security agencies by giving them information on criminal hideouts observed in the bushes.
“Finally, he advised that communities should not allow their areas to be used as safe haven for the commission of heinous crimes and to report suspicious activities or any person observed treating bullet wounds to the nearest police station or call the Command’s emergency numbers: 08034773600 or 08098880197.
Gunmen gives residents sleepless nights
Several shops and houses were razed on Thursday when gunmen invaded Izombe, a community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, South-east Nigeria.
The gunmen were said to have attacked the community at about 4:30 p.m.
It was gathered that the attack lasted for over two hours.
A resident of the area, Chijioke Kelechi, told this newspaper that the gunmen wore security uniforms.
He said the gunmen arrived the community in about eight vehicles causing residents to flee.
“Suddenly they started shooting sporadically and all of us ran for our dear lives,” he said.
“They set houses and shops ablaze, about 10 or even more.”
He said the gunmen appeared to be targeting specific houses and that they were also looting some shops.
“We have all run away. We are scared they might come back and kill us,” Mr Kelechi added.
He could not confirm if any resident was killed in the attack.
A video clip and photographs of some of the shops and houses razed by the gunmen have gone viral on social media.
In a video, some shops and houses were in flames, with residents struggling to put off the fire.
“It is not easy for us now,” a voice is heard in the background. “They broke people’s shops and carried their goods.”
Worsening insecurity
Like other states in the South-east, security has deteriorated in Imo State, with frequent attacks by armed persons.
The attacks often target security agencies, government officials, and facilities.
The latest incident came barely three weeks after gunmen attacked and killed four police officers at Agwa Divisional Police Headquarters in the council area.
