Police operatives of the Anambra command and troops from 302 Artillery Regiment of the Nigerian Army say they killed three suspected IPOB-ESN operatives and arrested two.

This is contained in a statement signed by DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesman for the command, on Monday.

According to him, at about 2:20 a.m., gunmen suspected to be IPOB-ESN attacked Awada Police Station in Idemilli North council area of Anambra, using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and automatic firearms.

“In response to the attack, police operatives engaged the hoodlums jointly with troops from 302 Artillery Regiment of the Nigerian Army in a gun duel and three members of the outlawed IPOB/ESN were fatally wounded,” said the police statement. “Three Kalashnikov rifles and one automatic pump-action gun were recovered from them.”

The police added, “Other items recovered from the assailants included a brown Lexus 330 with registration no. GWA 415BB ABJ, one unregistered KYMCO motorcycle suspected to be stolen, charms and other incriminating items. During a mop-up operation by police and military operatives, two male suspects reasonably believed to have participated in the attack were apprehended.”

“Regrettably,” the police said, “four police operatives paid the supreme price while a section of the station, one police patrol vehicle and three exhibit vehicles parked in the premises were set ablaze by petrol bombs thrown into the station by the assailants.”

The statement further said police commissioner Echeng Echeng ordered the immediate deployment of all the command’s operational-investigative assets to track down fleeing members of the group.

Mr Echeng appealed to residents of Awada and Anambra residents to remain calm as the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, would not rest until criminal elements tormenting the state were brought to justice. 

(NAN)