Four people have been killed in what the police in Ebonyi described as IPOB members and armed robbers’ attacks in the state.

The police command added that it arrested six suspected IPOB members.

Police spokesperson in the state, Loveth Odah, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, noting that the arrest was made on Monday.

Ms Odah also said the police killed three suspected armed robbers, recovered three expended cartridges, a jackknife, an axe, a cutlass, and charms.

She explained that some hoodlums barricaded Ogbaga road and set vehicles ablaze.

“The hoodlums on sighting the police opened fire. In the exchange of gun battle (sic) that ensued, two members of the gang were fatally wounded while others escaped with bullet wounds into the nearby bush,” said the police statement.

“A Toyota Picnic was set ablaze by the gang, including five motorcycles of different brands,” said the police, adding that “innocent citizens were attacked because they refused to obey the sit-at-home directive of the IPOB. The traumatised victims are currently responding to treatment at Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital.”

Ms Odah explained that two of the IPOB suspects on surveillance mission were intercepted in front of the police headquarters in the state.

The police spokeswoman revealed that a suspect was killed after the police and sister security agencies engaged his gang in a gun duel on the Ikwo/Abakaliki expressway, Ikwo local government area, while others escaped with bullet wounds.

“Frantic effort is ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects,” Ms Odah added.

(NAN)