At least four alleged members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), were killed on Wednesday by a team of joint security operatives in Enugu State.
The security team, comprising soldiers and police and Department of State Services’ personnel, also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from the suspects when the operatives invaded their camp.
According to a statement by Governor Peter Mbah’s media office, some of them fled into the bush with varying degrees of gunshot injury.
The statement claimed that the ESN operatives were intercepted in the early hours of Wednesday and overpowered by the security operatives at Eha-Alumona in the Nsukka local government area while hatching sinister plans of attacking some parts of the state, including the metropolis.
“It was gathered from verified and reliable security sources that an ESN commander who had been operating from neighbouring states was arrested after hours of intense gun duel between the operatives and the men of the underworld.
“According to the sources, the notorious ESN commander who had been on the wanted list led the security operatives to their hideouts where they stashed their arms, charms and other dangerous objects,” the statement indicated.
Meanwhile, the two security personnel who sustained injuries during the operation are reportedly receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
“They are in a stable condition,” the statement noted.
Governor Mbah had vowed to flush out criminal elements and hoodlums behind insecurity in the state through the establishment of the Distress Response Squad (DRS), investment in the state’s Command and Control Centre, surveillance security system, and modern technology aimed at intercepting and eliminating all forms of security threats.
