Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Police in Ebonyi say their men killed two gunmen enforcing the sit-at-home order during a gun duel.
Two other gunmen were also arrested.
Police spokesperson, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, stated this in a statement on Tuesday.
According to her, the police received information that gunmen suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were shooting in Okposi, Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state to enforce the sit-at-home order.
The statement reads: “On the 10th of July, 2023, at about 13:50 hours, some armed men suspected to be IPOB/ESN members went to Okposi in Ohaozara LGA and started shooting sporadically into the air. On receipt of the information, the operatives of the Command immediately swung into action by giving the hoodlums a hot chase.
“The hoodlums engaged the policemen in a gun duel, which resulted in one of them being neutralised while the others escaped with varying degrees of bullet wounds.
“The police recovered several exhibits, including a bullet-riddled blue Highlander jeep, a pump-action gun, live cartridges, handsets (phones), a Sumec Fireman generator, charms, provisions robbed from shops, face masks, expended pump-action gun cartridges, and expended shell of AK 47 rifle ammunition.
The following day, during a search of the bushes, the police arrested two other fleeing suspects who had bullet wounds.
“The arrested individuals are Emmanuel Edwin and Chigozie Udeh, while another suspect who was unconscious with bullet injuries later died on the way to the hospital.”
The Spokesperson quoted the Commissioner of Police, Augustina N. Ogbodo, as warning criminals to lay down their arms or leave the state, emphasising that it will no longer be a safe haven for them.
The police, she added, have implemented maximum security measures, including intensive motorised patrols across the entire state, to halt criminal activities.
