Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri.
The Imo State Police Command has confirmed that hoodlums in large numbers came and attacked Mbieri Police station in Mbaitoli Local Government Area in the early hours of Friday.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Michael Abattam, confirmed this to newsmen in Owerri.
According to him, the hoodlums attacked the police station with Improvised Explosive Devices, IED, adding that the explosives caused damage to the station.
He, however, said no life was lost and no ammunition was carted away.
Abattam said the hoodlums were repelled.
Ikengaonline reports that last month, hoodlums had attacked police stations in different LGAs of Imo State, including Oru East, Njaba, Obowo, Owerri West West among others.
They killed some officers and set ablaze the police stations.
On the Mbaitoli police station attack, the command said: “Today 1/4/2022 at about 0400 hours hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra/ Eastern Security Network, its militia wing attempted attack on Mbieri Police Station but were repelled following very stiff resistance from the police operatives attached to the division.
“The hoodlums who threw Improvised Explosive Devices into the station and shot sporadically were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the combat-ready police operatives, forcing them to retreat in panic, escaping in their vehicle.
“For the prompt response of the gallant police operatives, only minimal damage was done to a parked unserviceable vehicle and some windows due to the effect of the Explosive, no life was lost or injury sustained by the operatives and no arms/ ammunition was charted away.
Meanwhile, the investigation is ongoing and efforts are on to arrest fleeing hoodlums”
“The Acting Commissioner of Police, Imo Command, DCP Maman B. Giwa psc, commended the gallantry displayed by the officers and men and urged them not to relent in their efforts in combating violent crimes until all the criminal elements and their partners are apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.
“We appealed to Imolites for their continuous support and collaboration by giving security agencies, especially the Police, credible and timely information and to report any person seen treating bullet wounds or hiding within the community to the nearest police station for prompt action,” police said.
