IMO: IPOB dares Uzodinma, battles police, army, air force

Less than 48hrs after Uzodinma absolved IPOB of most of atrocities in Imo, more attacks by charm-bearing gunmen recorded

Imo Gov. Hope Uzodima May 24 claimed attacks on police facilities and others are imported, and just a handful of attackers are Igbo indigenes. He might have goofed.

Those unknown gunmen torched another police station, the Orji Divisional Police Headquarters situated on Owerri- Okigwe Road in Owerri, on Tuesday.

Another shootout between security agencies, including the army, police and the air force and those gunmen ensued at the Ohaji Egbema area of the state same day.

IPOB operatives seeking a Biafran Republic have been engaging in killing and burning police officers and their facilities in surprise attacks across the southwest since late last year.

While Uzodinma claimed attacks would never happened again after the security agencies arrested over 400 hoodlums, among whom over 300 are non-indigenes, panic has risen higher in the state.

The state command police spokesperson Bala Elkana said the bandits were suspected to be part of the gang that attacked the Owerri Correctional Centre and the state Police command headquarters in Owerri, on April 5.

Suspects arrested in connection with the Owerri attack have claimed they have affiliation with IPOB.

“Imo Police Command neutralised hoodlums that masterminded the attack on the Command Headquarters and Correctional Centre in April, 2021.Recovered AK 47 Rifle with a cache of live ammunition,’ said Elkana, of the latest attack.

“The hoodlums were engaged in a gun battle. During the gun duel that lasted for about two hours, two suspects believed to have masterminded the attack at the Police Headquarters and Correctional Centre, Owerri, on 5th April, 2021, were fatally injured.”

“The suspects are Unchenna Elendu of Umukusu Ocha area and Elu Osinachi of Umuobube Awara.

The two suspects, he said, were taken to hospital for medical examination. The doctor on duty confirmed Uchenna dead on arrival while Osinachi Elu who was in coma, was subsequently confirmed dead.

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” One Ak47 Rifle with breach number 11654 and a cache of live ammunition were recovered. Also recovered are a number of expanded ammunition, machetes and criminal charms tied around the waist of the suspects.

“The operation will be sustained until all the perpetrators of the dastardly attack are brought to justice.”