One suspected member of the Eastern Security Network, ESN, an armed group of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, was killed and many others were injured by the Imo State Police Command on Monday as they attempted to attack the palace of the Chairman of the Imo state traditional rulers council, Eze Emmanuel Okeke.

Micheal Abattam, the State Police Public Relations Officer, told reporters in Owerri about it.

According to the police, other hoodlums who sustained gunfire injuries jumped into the forest in the Amaifeke community in the Orlu local government area around 1 p.m.

He explained how the police learned about the planned attack, he said, “Sequel to the recent attacks on the palaces of some Traditional Rulers in the state by some unknown gunmen, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Rabiu Hussaini, psc to curb this menace deployed the command’s tactical teams to patrol every community in the state, while closely monitoring the palaces of traditional rulers.

“Today, the 3rd of January, 2022 at about 0100hrs, the strategy paid off as the Command’s tactical teams working in synergy with vigilante Group of the area were able to repel the attack/attempt to set the palace of Eze Imo; HRH Eze Dr. E. C. Okeke on fire by men suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN group at Ezioha Amaifeke in Orlu LGA of Owerri, lmo state.

“The hoodlums, in their numbers, besieged the palace of the traditional ruler armed with assorted weapons but were subdued by the superior fire-power of the Command’s tactical teams and in the process, one of the hoodlums was neutralized. While others fled into the bush with bullet injuries.

“On searching the body of the neutralized bandit, several charms were seen tied around his waist. Other items also recovered include One ID Card, One locally made Improvised Explosive device, Five bottles containing fuel, Cash of N20,000.00 (twenty thousand nairas) only, One Pump Action Gun with four live cartridges.

“Meanwhile, the command’s tactical teams are present, combing the bush with a view of arresting the fleeing members of the gang and to recover more arms and other dangerous weapons,” Police said.