The Imo State Police Command has said its operatives successfully repelled an attempted attack allegedly carried out by members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), resulting in the death of one suspect.

The command’s spokesman, Henry Okoye, shared the details with newsmen while displaying the deceased suspect’s body and recovered items at the command headquarters in Owerri.

He said, “On October 29, 2024, around 6:30 PM, the Counter Terrorism Unit successfully thwarted an assault by suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists during a routine patrol on the Owerri/Aba Road, near Owerri Airport. Approximately ten assailants launched the attack from two vehicles but were repelled. In the confrontation, one suspect was neutralized, while others fled with injuries, abandoning their operational vehicle—a Mercedes Jeep with Lagos registration number AAA 101 GR.”

Okoye noted that the police recovered an AK-47 rifle, fifteen rounds of 9.62mm ammunition, an IPOB/ESN flag, and the abandoned vehicle. He added that ongoing operations were underway to locate the remaining suspects, including searches of nearby areas.

The State Commissioner, Aboki Danjuma, urged the public to report anyone seeking medical treatment for gunshot wounds, emphasizing the Command’s commitment to public safety.