The Imo State Police Command has successfully neutralized three key terrorist kingpins and several other members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), dismantling their hideouts in a coordinated operation.
Force spokesman ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on the Nigeria Police’s X account, disclosed that the operation occurred on Friday following credible intelligence. Police operatives located the group’s hideout in a forest in Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area, where they encountered heavy gunfire but engaged the attackers in a fierce battle.
The operation resulted in the elimination of six terrorists, including three identified ESN leaders: Ifeanyi Anayo (28), Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe (22), and Kingsley Sunday (21), all natives of Ogube, Ihube. Authorities recovered five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of ammunition, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), communication gadgets, and eight operational motorcycles.
The group has been linked to high-profile crimes, including the 2021 Owerri Correctional Center attack, the killing of five policemen in December 2022, and the burning of Arondizuogu Police Station in February 2022. They were also implicated in several kidnappings, including WAEC staff, reverend sisters, and Chinese nationals.
Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, praised the operatives’ bravery and urged police commands to maintain the momentum in reducing crime nationwide. He reiterated the police’s commitment to ensuring public safety and urged citizens to collaborate with law enforcement to promote peace and security.
AT REPORTER
