The Imo State Police Command has reported the killing of three notorious terrorist kingpins and several of their members in a major operation aimed at dismantling terrorist hideouts in the state.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Force spokesman ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi confirmed the development, highlighting the ongoing efforts of the Nigeria Police Force to enhance public safety and combat terrorism across the country.
“Police operatives attached to the Imo State Police Command have successfully neutralized three deadly terrorist kingpins linked to the Eastern Security Network (ESN),” Adejobi said.
The operation, which was carried out by the Command’s tactical unit on Friday, followed credible intelligence that led to the identification of a terrorist hideout in the forested area of Ihube, located within Okigwe Local Government Area (LGA).
Upon approaching the hideout, the operatives came under intense fire from suspected IPOB/ESN militants. However, the police force responded with remarkable bravery, engaging the attackers in a fierce gun battle.
The clash led to the death of six terrorists, including three prominent ESN leaders identified as Ifeanyi Anayo (28), also known as Zuma De Rock; Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe (22), also known as Nmimi; and Kingsley Sunday (21), all from Ogube, Ihube in Okigwe LGA.
The operation also resulted in the recovery of five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), various communication devices, and eight operational motorcycles.
Adejobi noted that the terrorist group was implicated in several heinous crimes, including the attack on the Owerri Correctional Centre on April 5, 2021, the killing of five policemen in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022, and the burning of Arondizuogu police station on February 8, 2022.
The group was also responsible for multiple kidnappings, including the abductions of West African Examination Council (WAEC) staff on June 5, 2023, four reverend sisters on August 21, 2022, and four Chinese nationals on December 6, 2023.
In light of this success, Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, praised the operatives for their exceptional courage and coordination.
The IGP urged police personnel across the country to maintain the momentum and continue implementing the force’s action plan aimed at significantly reducing crime in the early part of 2025.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of the nation,” Adejobi added.
“We urge the public to stay vigilant and collaborate with the police to promote peace and security in their communities.”
