Tactical Teams of the Imo State Police Command exchanged gunfire with armed bandits accused of being members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed branch, Eastern Security Network (ESN)....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
A police officer and two suspected hoodlums who allegedly killed an officer were slain in a gunfight in Agwa, Oguta LGA, Imo State.
According to Michael Abattam, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), one of the cops paid the ultimate price during the attack, while others were treated and released from the hospital with minor injuries.
The hoodlums’ bodies were later deposited in Federal Medical Center Mortuary, according to the police spokesman, who was describing the incident.
“ESN members in their numbers appeared from the surrounding bushes, shooting intermittently at the policemen while conducting stop and search duty,” according to the report.
“While calling for reinforcement from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Agwa, the officers who quickly took cover and responded engaged them in a fierce gunfight.”
“When they arrived, they strategically positioned themselves and professionally engaged the hoodlums in a firefight.
“Due to the operatives’ superior weaponry and numbers, they were able to neutralize two of the hoodlums, while the others ran in disorder into the bush with bullet wounds.”
“Police agents pursued the hoodlums methodically, searching the bush for their weapons and arresting the fleeing culprits. Two locally built double-barrel rifles were found at the scene, with seven live ammunition and ten spent cartridges.”
While comforting the family of the officer who died valiantly, the Commissioner of Police, Imo Command, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, told the officers and men not to give up until all criminal elements are captured and brought to justice.
He then urged Imolites to continue their support and cooperation in providing credible and timely information to the police and other security services, as well as to report anyone spotted treating bullet wounds or hiding within the community to the nearest police station for immediate action.
He also advised them to call the command’s emergency lines, 08034773600 or 08098880197, whenever they are in distress.
