Suspected IPOB/ESN Fighters Attack Imo Police Station Engage Officers In Gun Battle

Operatives of the Nigeria Police and gunmen suspected to be fighters belonging to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/ Eastern Security Network (ESN) on Friday morning engaged in a gun battle.

The IPOB/ESN fighters were said to have attacked the Mbieri Police Division but met strong resistance from operatives in the station.

According to a statement made available to newsmen in Owerri, the Imo State Capital by the State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Mike Abattam on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Maman Giwa, the attackers threw explosive devices at the station before shooting sporadically.

The attack was however repelled by gallant police operatives, forcing the attacking gunmen to retreat.

The explosive device caused minimal damage to some windows as well as some parked unserviceable vehicles in the compound, the statement observed.

No casualty was recorded during the gunfire exchange, the Police Commissioner added.

The statement read in part, “Today April 1, hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra/ Eastern Security Network, its militia wing attempted attack on Mbieri Police Station but were repelled following stiff resistance from the police operatives attached to the division.

“The hoodlums who threw Improvised Explosive Devices into the station and shot sporadically were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the combat-ready police operatives, forcing them to retreat in panic, escaping in their vehicles.

“For the prompt response of the gallant police operatives, only minimal damage was done to parked unserviceable vehicles and some windows due to the effect of the explosive.”

Giwa added that an investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being made to arrest the fleeing hoodlums.