The Enugu State Police Command on Friday, said that it had killed three operatives of the Indigenous People of Biafra’s Eastern Security Network (ESN) and recovered their weapons during a raid on the group’s camp in the Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area in the State.
The command’s spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Enugu on Friday.
According to him, the raid was carried out by a team of police Special Forces and operatives from the Igbo-Eze North Police Division at Imufu area of the council on Thursday.
He disclosed that when the police operatives engaged the ESN operatives in a gun duel, three members of the group were killed, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
A number of items were recovered from the group, including four pump action guns, one locally fabricated revolver gun, one pistol, 67 live cartridges, military camouflage uniforms, IPOB insignia fabrics, and what were believed to be amulets.
Meanwhile, Ndukwe noted that a preliminary investigation had revealed that “the criminal elements were responsible for the shooting and killing of two Neighbourhood Watch Group security personnel on 21/07/2023 at about 1 a.m, at Umuagama in Enugu-Ezike community of Igbo-Eze North LGA and had made several attempts to enforce the illegal sit-at-home order in some parts of the council.”
Ndukwe further said that the command’s commissioner of police, Ammani, had reaffirmed the command’s commitment to rid the state of unrepentant criminals and commended the officers who carried out the operation.
He quoted the commissioner as encouraging officers to remain resolute and maintain the same level of commitment and work, and appealed to residents of the state to continue to support the police in its efforts to rid the state of criminals.
He said, “We are urging residents of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area and owners of medical facilities in particular, to promptly report individuals sighted with gunshot wounds to the nearest police station. Or by calling the Command’s emergency hotlines on 08032003702, 08075380883, 08086671202, or 08098880172, or send emails to infoenugupolice@gmail.com.”