Dan Opara
On 16/5/2022 at about 0800 hours at Orlu, hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and it’s arm affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), in their numbers were sighted in three Hilux vehicle shooting sporadically, fiercely advancing towards the Palace of Imo State Chairman Council Of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Highness Eze Dr E. C Okeke to unleash terror therein.
On receipt of the information, the Command’s Tactical Team joined by the military immediately mobilized and rushed to the palace. On their way, the hoodlums on sighting the combined team engaged them in a gun duel, throwing petrol bombs. The gallant team responded, positioning themselves professionally. In the exchange of gun fire that ensued, the hoodlums were overwhelmed due to the superior fire-power of the combined team and in the process, six of the hoodlums were neutralized while others escaped with various degrees of gunshot injuries.
The combined team did not relent in their effort, they chased the hoodlums recovering one pump action gun, three blood stained cutlasses and three Hilux Vehicles suspected to have been snatched from innocent citizens.
However, calm has been restored in the area and the corpses of the neutralized bandits removed and deposited in the mortuary. On the side of the combined team, no life was lost apart from one of the police vehicles that got burnt due to the fire that ignited it from the petrol bomb.
Meanwhile, efforts are on top gear to arrest other fleeing hoodlums and security in Orlu and its environs have been beefed up to forestall any further attack in the area.
The Commissioner of Police, Imo Command, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, psc(+) while commending the combined team for their gallantry, urged them not to relent in their efforts until all criminal elements and their cohorts are made to face the full wrath of the law. He thanked Imolites for their constant support and advised them to always assist the police and other security agencies with credible and timely information and urged them to report promptly any person seen with bullet wounds to the nearest Police Station or call the Police Emergency Control Room numbers; 080347773600 or 08098880197.
Finally, the Commissioner of Police called on the peace loving people of Imo State to go about their lawful businesses without fear of any molestation as all the security agencies are working assiduously in synergy to ensure the safety of life and properties in the state.
The press statement was duly signed by CSP MICHAEL ABATTAM, the POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IMO STATE COMMAND.
