By Augustine Ehikioya
Swiftly responding to plots of some hoodlums, Police officials in Imo State have foiled attack on Obowo Police Division in the State.
Members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) / Eastern Security Network (ESN) are suspected to be behind the foiled attack on the Police division in the early hours of Monday.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Michael Abattam, on behalf of the
Acting Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, DCP Mamman Giwa and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA).
The statement said “On the 28th day of March, 2022 at about 0200 hours, armed men suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ) / Eastern Security Network ( ESN ), its militia wing came in their numbers from the rear of the division, which is an ungoverned forest, threw petrol bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) that fell on the transit camp and a vehicle, shooting sporadically.
“The Police operatives of the division and some of the Command’s Tactical Teams responded swiftly, engaging the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel preventing them from gaining entrance to the station and in the process forced the hoodlums into retreating and they escaped back into the forest with various degrees of bullet wounds.
“The Police operatives gave them a hot chase and while combing the bush the following items were recovered on the spot: Three (3) undetonated explosives, four (4) expended AK47 Rifles ammunition, five (5) live cartridges, thirty three (33) expended cartridges, two mask, one pump action gun and a motor saw machine.”
Apart from minimal damage on the transit camp and a vehicle, the statement said, no life was lost.
It added that the Police operative who sustained minor gun shot injury has been treated.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police incharge of Operation/Acting Commissioner of Police, Imo Command, DCP Maman B. Giwa, the statement said, visited the station for an on the spot assessment of the situation.
He commended the officers and men for their gallantry and advised them “not to relent in their efforts in combating violent crimes in the State, until all criminal elements and their partners are apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.”
He then, “appealed to Imolites for their continuous support and collaboration by giving security agencies, especially the Police, credible and timely information and to report any person seen treating bullet wounds or hiding within the community to the nearest Police station for prompt action.”