By Abuja Iheme
It was a bloody Monday in the South-East zone as six gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) were killed in Orlu, Imo State, in a bloody gun duel with the police today.
Similarly, two other persons, who belong to the hooded unknown gunmen corps and were allegedly enforcing Monday’s sit-at-home order in Anambra, were killed during a gun battle with police operatives.
Those in Imo were killed when they reportedly attempted to burn down the Palace of the Imo State Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Highness Eze E. C Okeke.
A report indicated that the incident took place around 8 am when the hoodlums in their numbers were sighted in three Hilux vans shooting sporadically, and fiercely advancing towards the Eze’s Palace to unleash mayhem.
Confirming the incident, police spokesman, CSP Michael Abattam, said when they received the distress information, the Command’s Tactical Team joined by the military immediately mobilized and rushed to the palace to restore order.
“The hoodlums on sighting the combined team engaged them in a gun duel, throwing petrol bombs. The gallant team responded, positioning themselves professionally.
“In the exchange of gun fire that ensued, the hoodlums were overwhelmed due to the superior fire-power of the combined team and in the process, six of the hoodlums were neutralized while others escaped with various degrees of gunshot injuries,” the police spokesman said.
According to police spokesperson, the operatives recovered one pump action gun, three blood stained cutlasses and three Hilux Vehicles suspected to have been snatched from innocent citizens.
He said calm has been restored in the area and the corpses of the neutralized bandits removed and deposited in the mortuary.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Anambra State, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the killing of the two enforcers in a statement issued in Awka and made available to newsmen.
