Details emerged as gunmen kill four police officers in Imo, raze station

By Adeleye Kunle

The Imo State Police Command has blamed the early morning attack on Agwa Police Station on members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), Track News Reports

Responding to the attack on Saturday, State Police Commissioner Mohammed Barde said suspected IPOB/ESN members used a tipper vehicle to force the police station’s gate open, then threw Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDS) and petrol bombs, killing the officers on duty.

The IPOB)/ESN members were blamed for the attack, according to the police spokesman, CSP Michael Abattam.

“A large group of hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), attacked the Agwa Police Station.” The hoodlums, who arrived in two vehicles and a tipper, fired sporadically and used the tipper vehicle to force the gate open to gain access to the station, throwing improvised explosive devices (IEDS) and petrol bombs.

“Police operatives from the division, assisted by the Command’s Tactical Teams, put up a strong fight against the hoodlums, engaging them in a gun duel.” The hoodlums, who were fatally wounded with many casualties on their side, retreated and fled in their vehicles.”

According to him, the fire that affected a parked private car and some motorcycles was later extinguished, preventing further damage. “Fortunately, the building was not damaged, but two suspects in custody escaped, four police officers bravely paid the ultimate price, and one rifle is still missing.”

Barde, who assessed the incident on the spot, paid a visit to the Eze of the Community, HRH Eze (Dr) I. O Asor, in his palace, where he assured him and members of his community of the Command’s commitment to restoring peace and that the Command would leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators of this heinous act were apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.

“The gunmen came around 12 PM last night with one tipper vehicle, two Sienna vehicles and launched an attack on our community police station shooting sporadically,” a source who requested anonymity said.

“Two policewomen were burned to death alongside two other officers on duty; they also went to the house of one okada rider known as Ejike in our village and shot him dead, injuring his wife, who is now critically ill as a result of the gunshot injury she received.”

“As I speak with you now, there is palpable fear and anxiety in my community, people are afraid of their lives, and many have fled to our neighboring communities for their safety.”

Another source, who did not want his name used, told our correspondent that one of the slain officers had only been on the force for two weeks.

“One of the officers killed was a new recruit,” he said. After the passing out parade, he had only been a police officer for about two weeks.

“This is incredible. Please, God, come to our rescue. Please, the government, rise to the occasion. Things are out of control. I’m not sure if they want us to flee our homes. It now feels like a war zone. Please, God, assist us.”

There were images of the attacked division as well as mangled bodies of officers lying dead in a pool of their own blood.

According to another source, police officers drafted from outside the division had taken over the area.”

The IPOB accuses security agencies.

In response to the attack, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) denied any involvement, but accused security agencies of coluding with the Ebubeagu militia group in order to blackmail the group.

IPOB called the statement alleging that its members were responsible for the gruesome murder of eight northerners in Orogwe, a suburb community in Owerri, Imo State, “laughable” and “fabricated.”

Emma Powerful, the IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, said in a statement on Saturday that the group would never attack any peaceful individual or group of people conducting legitimate business in its territory.

“Our attention has been drawn to the laughable disgraceful, unguarded, and fabricated statement alleging that IPOB members were responsible for the gruesome murder of eight northern people living in Orogwe, a suburb community in Owerri, Imo State,” the statement read in part.

“It is unfortunate that the Federal Government and her security agencies would sink so low as to collude with the Ebubeagu militia, which was created by Governor Hope Uzodimma and his government, to murder innocent people in order to blackmail the IPOB.”

“Isn’t the government sick of this evil propaganda and bloodshed of innocent Imo civilians in the East in order to blackmail and demonize the IPOB?”

“The IPOB has never attacked, and will never attack, any peaceful individual or group conducting legitimate business or trading in our territory.”

“We are only interested in the criminals and bandits they brought into our territory disguised as herdsmen, who kidnap for ransom, rape our women, and murder our farmers in our forests and bushes.”

“The IPOB will never cave in to pressure and blackmail by pursuing terrorists disguised as herders in our bushes and forests.” The ESN has dealt with and dislodged those sponsored terrorists, and will continue to do so until they leave our forest and bushes.

“As a result, the Nigeria Police and its sister security agencies operating in Biafraland should leave IPOB alone in order to rid our territory of terrorists.”

“The IPOB has stated several times that we have nothing against Hausa people living peacefully and going about their legitimate businesses; anyone who links the IPOB to the recent attack in Imo State is doing so to demonize and blackmail the IPOB.”

“On Monday, the IPOB did not harm or kill anyone in Imo State because we are peaceful and have not engaged in enforcing non-existent Monday sit-at-home orders.”

“We are intent on rescuing Biafrans from the wretched Nigeria Republic.”

“Biafrans should be aware that Nigeria’s compromised security agencies are complicit in the numerous ransom kidnappings and killings of innocent citizens in the East, which they falsely blame on the IPOB and ESN.” They are engaging in all of these barbaric activities in order to cast the IPOB in a negative light in the eyes of our people and the international community.”

Gunmen loot, burn shops, vehicles, and houses in another community.

In another development, gunmen went on a rampage on Saturday, burning shops and vehicles in Izombe Community, Oguta Local Government Area, Imo State.

According to an eyewitness, 18 shops and seven vehicles were destroyed in the process, but no casualties were reported.

Scores, on the other hand, were injured while running for safety.

The incident occurred just hours after gunmen suspected of belonging to the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) attacked the Agwa Divisional Police Headquarters in the same local government area.

According to our source, the gunmen arrived in the community in the early hours of Saturday, shooting sporadically before going on a looting spree after destroying the shops.

“They burned seven vehicles, burned about 18 locked-up shops, stalls, comprising pharmaceutical shop, machine spare parts, wine, assorted drinks shops, decoration, boutique shop, all filled to the brim,” said an eyewitness who spoke on the phone.

According to a source, the incident may be linked to Agwa because the gunmen were heavily armed and appeared to be returning from a mission.

According to our correspondent, the incident threw the entire community into disarray as everyone ran helter-skelter in search of safety.

At the time of filing the report, it was learned that the police had yet to arrive. Several calls to the Police Public Relations Officer were not returned, but according to a source, no such incident was reported to the station.

Buhari promises a prompt investigation into the situation.

Saturday evening, President Muhammadu Buhari reacted to a series of recent killings of non-indigenes and security operatives in the country’s Southeast region, promising a swift investigation into the trend.

On Friday, a combined team of security personnel engaged suspected terrorists in their hideout in Ukpor community, Nnewi South council area, Anambra State, killing ten people.

However, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, President Buhari lamented the region’s deteriorating security situation and the terrorists’ targeting style, which has been observed to favor non-indigenes and security personnel.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his unequivocal condemnation of terrorist attacks in the South East on non-indigenes and law enforcement officials, promising all possible action in conducting a speedy investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

“President Buhari’s reaction came amid reports of the slaying of six Nigerien citizens and the brutal killing of a number of police officers at their duty posts, urging community and religious leaders to speak out more forcefully against the killings, stand up, and defend the ethos of our cultural and religious heritage,” according to the statement.

In a speech to the people of the region, President Obama vowed to take action against criminal elements, saying that “those who know should point to specific people who did this.”

He reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to peace and stability in the southeast and throughout the country, saying reports of killings anywhere were sad and unwelcome.

He expressed his condolences to the families of the law enforcement officers killed, as well as to the government and people of Niger Republic, whose citizens were brutally beheaded by the beastly attackers.