Imo Police Neutralize Six IPOB/ESN Terrorists, Recover Arms

Operatives of the Imo State Police Command’s tactical unit have neutralized six suspected terrorists linked to the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Among them were three notorious kingpins identified as Ifeanyi Anayo, also known as Zuma De Rock, 28; Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe, also known as Nmimi, 22; and Kingsley Sunday, 21. All three were natives of Ogube, Ihube, in Okigwe Local Government Area.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday, noting that the operation was carried out on January 24 based on credible intelligence. According to Adejobi, police operatives launched a coordinated raid on the group’s hideout in a forest within Ihube, Okigwe. Upon arrival, they came under heavy fire but successfully engaged the assailants in a fierce gun battle, leading to the elimination of six members of the group.

During the operation, security personnel recovered five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), various communication gadgets, and eight operational motorcycles used by the group. Further investigations linked the neutralized terrorists to several high-profile crimes, including the April 5, 2021, attack on the Owerri Correctional Centre, the killing of five policemen in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022, and the burning of Arondizuogu Police Station on February 8, 2022. They were also implicated in multiple kidnapping incidents, including the abduction of WAEC staff on June 5, 2023, four reverend sisters on August 21, 2022, and four Chinese nationals on December 6, 2023.

Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun commended the operatives for their bravery and reaffirmed the force’s commitment to eliminating criminal elements across the country. He urged all commands to sustain the momentum in line with the police action plan aimed at significantly reducing crime in the first quarter of 2025.

Adejobi reiterated that the Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its mission to ensure national security and public safety. He also called on citizens to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement agencies to foster a safer society.