Akata, in the Oru East LGA, saw hell as IEDs, petrol bombs, and bullets rent the air during a confrontation between IPOB/ESN and Nigeria police on August 27.
By the time the rattle was over, casualties piled up on both sides.
Imo Commissioner of Police Rabiu Hussein disclosed to newsmen how it all went, following community intelligence on IPOB mobilizing in the community to attack some targets—police and government formations.
The tactical team were dispatched there, and on combing the area, recovered three IEDs, two Pump-Action guns, nine cartridges, a locally made pistol, and a Toyota Highlander.
“On their way back, the police team found out the bandits had reinforced and regrouped, laying ambush using palm tree logs to block the entire exit paths in the bush,” he said.
But at the fourth blockade, the bandits had regrouped, and let fly at the unsuspecting tactical team trying to remove the palm trees on the road.
“The bandits threw petrol bombs and Improvised Explosives Devices (I.E.Ds) at the police vehicles,” he said.
The shooting and bombing lasted enough for the police to kill a leader and many of the bandits Hussein couldn’t figure out yet—and for the bandits to get three of the police team.
One died on the way to hospital, while the others are responding to treatment.
Hussein added the Command is embarking on a mop-up operations to arrest the remnants of the IPOB/ ESN members terrorizing the state.