South East Insecurity: Ebonyi Police Confirms The Killing Of One IPOB/ESN Suspect

Ebonyi State Police Command said its men neutralized an alleged member of the outlawed group, the Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network, IPOB/ESN.

Command spokesperson, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, who made the disclosure, noted that the event took place during a joint operation in one of the outlawed group's hideouts in Ekeagbebor Isu, Onicha council area of the state.

According to her, the alleged IPOB/ESN outlaw was gunned down in the course of a fierce gun battle between members of the group and security operatives comprising the police, soldiers and agents of the Directorate of State Services, DSS, who were responding to a distress call.

The other alleged suspects reportedly escaped.

However, two other members, one Emmanuel Chinedu, alias Patho, and Paul Ani, also known as Osah, were arrested by the security agents.

“During the ensuing gun duel, one of the police operatives sustained bullet wound injury on one of his legs and was rushed to the hospital where he is responding to treatment and recuperating,” Onovwakpoyeya explained. 

Onovwakpoyeya who disclosed that the raided IPOB/ESN camp/shrine was completely destroyed during the operation, added that another alleged member of the proscribed group, 31 year-old Chidi Chukwu, was later apprehended in neighbouring Agba community while attempting to flee from the area. He has been handed over to the police. 

Meanwhile, the state police commissioner, CP Augustina Ogbodo, has appealed to hospitals, traditional medicine homes, chemists and all residents of the state to report persons with bullet wound injuries seeking medical attention to the nearest police station.