The Ebonyi State Police Command on Thursday reported that a member of the Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) had been killed after a gunfight between the group’s dispersed members and security personnel in the State.
Security operatives broke into the IPOB/ESN hideout in response to reliable and actionable intelligence, according to a statement from the Command signed by Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya.
In a joint operation with the military and the Department of State Service (DSS), she reported that a tactical squad of Command operatives attacked the group’s camp at Ekeagbebor Isu in the state’s Onicha local government area.
SP Onovwakpoyeya said that on getting to the entrance of the camp, the hoodlums engaged the security team in a gun battle, adding that in the ensuing gun duel, one of the IPOB/ESN members was killed, while others escaped with various degrees of bullet wounds.
She maintained that two other members of the group, one Emmanuel Chinedu ‘m’ a.k.a Patho, aged 26yrs and Paul Ani ‘m’ a.k.a Osah, aged 38yrs were arrested by the security agents.
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“During the ensuing gun duel, one of the police operatives sustained bullet wound injury on one of his legs and was rushed to the hospital where he is responding to treatment and recuperating,” the PPRO noted.
She stated that the IPOB/ESN’s camp/shrine was completely destroyed during the operation.
The Police spokesperson also confirmed the arrest of another IPOB/ESN member, one Chidi Chukwu ‘m’ aged 31yrs by members of Agba community in Ishielu LGA of the State when he was trying to flee the community and was thereafter handed over to the Police.
SP Onovwakpoyeya stated that the State Police Commissioner has appealed to all hospitals, traditional medicine homes, chemists and all Ebonyians to report anyone seeking medical attention with bullet injuries to the nearest Police station.
“The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, CP Augustina Ogbodo is using this medium to warn criminals to either desist from crime or relocate from the state as the Command is working round the clock to ensure that anyone terrorizing the State is arrested and brought to justice,” the PPRO stated.