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Tag: Imo

  • Police foils attack on police division in Imo

    Police foils attack on police division in Imo

    The police command in Imo on Friday successfully repelled a deadly attack by suspected members of the proscribed Eastern Security Network (ESN) who attacked Mbieri Police Division.
    The police said the incident happened in the early hours of Friday, when a group of gunmen attacked the station with explosive devices.
    Acting Police Commissioner in Imo, Mr Maman Giwa, disclosed this in a press statement signed by the command’s spokesman, CSP Mike Abattam.
    He said there was minimal damage to the police facility, while no casualty was recorded.
    Giwa said ever ready officers repelled the bandits and forced them to retreat.
    “Today April 1, 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 a stiff resistance from the police operatives attached to the division.
    “The hoodlums who threw Improvised Explosive Devices into the station and shooting sporadically were overwhelmed by the superior fire power of the combat ready police operatives, forcing them to retreat in panic, escaping in their vehicles.
    “For the prompt response of the gallant police operatives, only minimal damage was done to a parked unserviceable vehicles and some windows due to the effect of the Explosive.
    “No life was lost or injury sustained by the operatives and no arms/ ammunition were carted away,” he said.
    Giwa said investigation was ongoing and efforts were made to arrest the fleeing hoodlums.
    While commending the gallantry displayed by the officers, he urged them not to relent in their efforts in combating crimes until all the criminal elements and their partners are apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.
    He also appealed to the public for their continuous support and collaboration by giving security agencies, especially the Police credible and timely information.
  • BREAKING: Suspected IPOB members attack police divisional headquarters in Imo

    BREAKING: Suspected IPOB members attack police divisional headquarters in Imo

    Gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network attacked the Obowo Divisional Police headquarters in Imo on Monday.

    Police spokesman in Imo, CSP Michael Abattam, stated in Owerri that the assailants approached the station from an ungoverned forest at the rear.

    He added that they threw petrol bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices that fell on the transit camp behind the station and on a parked vehicle.

    “Police operatives and some of the Command’s Technical Teams engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel preventing them from gaining entrance to the station.

    “In the process, they forced the hoodlums into retreating into the forest with various degrees of bullet wounds.

    “The police operatives gave them a hot chase and while combing the bush, three undetonated explosives, four expended AK47 bullets and five live cartridges, were recovered.

    “Also recovered were 33 expended cartridges, two masks, one pump action gun and a motorised sawing machine,’’ Abattam stated.

    He added that apart from the minimal damage on the transit camp and the vehicle, no life was lost.

    He stated also that a police operative who sustained minor gunshot injury had been treated.

    The police spokesman added that Acting Commissioner of Police, DCP Maman Giwa, who visited the scene, commended the officers and men for repelling the attack.

    Giwa appealed to Imo residents to continue to give the police timely and credible information about criminals and their activities and to report any person seen treating bullet wounds within the community to the nearest police station.

    Meanwhile, a source in the community, who requested anonymity, said two persons were feared killed in the attack.

    “The attack started around 2 a.m. and lasted for about three hours. We heard the sounds of various firearms and suspected dynamite during the attack.

    “We do not know whether the assailants took away police weapons as they usually did,’’ he said.

    Monday’s attack brought the number of police divisional headquarters attacked in Imo in March to four.

    Earlier in the month, gunmen attacked Orsu, Oru East and Umuguma police divisional headquarters.

  • Gunmen attack Imo police station with explosives, kill two officers

    Gunmen attack Imo police station with explosives, kill two officers

    Gunmen on Saturday attacked the Umuguma Police station in Owerri West council area of Imo and killed two officers on duty.

    According to an eyewitness, who narrated the incident but pleaded anonymity, said the hoodlums came in two Toyota Hilux vehicles and attacked the station with an explosive device.

    The source said two officers were seen dead at the station after the attackers left for an unknown destination.

    He further narrated that while one of the officers was killed and cut with a machete, the other victim died at a water dispensing stand where he went to drink water after he was shot in one of his legs while trying to escape.

    A NAN reporter, who visited the scene, confirmed that no fewer than 12 vehicles parked at the police station and the roof of the station were burnt by the explosives used in attacking the station.

    Confirming the incident, the spokesman of Imo police command CSP Michael Abattam, said the hoodlums were repelled by the officers on guard.

    “I can confirm that there was an attack on the Umuguma police station, but the hoodlums were immediately repelled,” he said, indicating that police have mounted serious manhunt for the hoodlums,” he said.

  • IPOB sends warning to Cubana Chief Priest

    IPOB sends warning to Cubana Chief Priest

    The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Tuesday, warned Pascal Chibuike Okechukwu popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, against allowing the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma to deceive him.

    IPOB said Cubana Chief Priest should not allow Uzodinma deceive him into attacking its members and the Eastern Security Network, ESN.

    Emma Powerful, the spokesman of the group, asked the businessman not to strike any deal with Uzodinma against IPOB and ESN.

    He issued the warning while accusing Uzodinma of giving smartphones to Imo youths to attack IPOB and ESN.

    A statement by Powerful tasked Uzodinma to provide industries and job opportunities, rather than give youths phones to attack IPOB.

    Powerful said: “The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command of our indefatigable liberator Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu KANU has been drawn to the sharing of smartphones by the Supreme Court Administrator of Imo State Hope Uzodinma to the gullible minds and youths he is recruiting to attack IPOB members on social media platforms. These attack dogs and e-rats are paid to propagate lies and smear campaigns against IPOB, Eastern Security Network, ESN, and Biafra agitators.

    “We blame those he is deceiving with smartphones, material things and cash to oppose those fighting for their freedom. If Hope Uzodinma has the correct intentions for Imo State youths he wouldn’t have given them phones to attack IPOB; he would have provided industries and companies where the youths will work and produce phones for sale.

    “Imo youths should know that Uzodinma is taking them for granted. They should stop being gullible.

    “We are warning Mazi Pascal Chibuike Okechukwu popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest to steer clear, and not strike a deadly deal with Hope Uzodinma. He should not dare IPOB.

    “Let him continue his restaurant business and not get deceived by Hope Uzodinma and his APC co-travellers. Anybody who knows this man should tell him to retrace his steps and ‘not allow Uzodinma to use him to fight innocent people.”

  • Imo bye-election: INEC decries abduction of staffers

    Imo bye-election: INEC decries abduction of staffers

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern over the abduction of some of its adhoc members of staff in Imo.

    The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, while briefing newsmen in Owerri on Saturday, called on security agents to ensure safe return of its members of staff.

    He said the adhoc members of staff were deployed to Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of Imo for the state’s House of Assembly bye-election where they were abducted by unknown gunmen.

    Ezeonu said that he had also received distress calls from some of the commission’s members of staff who were being forced to thumbprint the ballot papers and manipulate the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), while being detained by their abductees.

    He said that while polls had closed in the constituency election across the local government, there were incidences of violence and disruption of the exercise in some polling units.

    He explained that rescue operations of the abductees were ongoing and appealed to security agents to sustain the tempo and ensure safe release of INEC’s members of staff who are still in captivity.

    “We have received SOS from some of our adhoc staff who were abducted, blindfolded and conveyed to unknown destinations.

    “They are being compelled to thumbprint the ballot papers and our situation room has received several phone calls alluding to the same.

    “We wish to reassure the general public that results manufactured from unknown places will not be collated and the number of votes cast must tally with the number of accredited voters as shown by the BVAS for such results to be authenticated.

    “Therefore, any persons involved in such act of falsification are chasing the wind,” he said.

    Ezeonu, while calling on residents of the state to remain calm, appealed to law enforcement agencies to tighten security to ensure hitch-free collation of results.

  • IPOB accuses Imo State govt of creating unknown gunmen

    IPOB accuses Imo State govt of creating unknown gunmen

    The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Wednesday accused the government of Imo State, under the watch of Hope Uzodinma, of creating unknown gunmen.

    IPOB further accused the Imo State govornor of presently using Ebubeagu security outfit to accomplish his aims “to eliminate our innocent citizens and youths in the state”.

    According to them, members of the Eastern Security Network, ESN, are not unknown gunmen.

    The group opined that southeast governors created unknown gunmen to demonize the group, ESN, and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

    IPOB asserted that its militia arm has no hands in the recent attack at the Isu Local Government Area Divisional Police Headquarters by unknown gunmen.

    A statement by IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful reads: “We, the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to reiterate once again to the general public that IPOB volunteers and ESN operatives are not unknown gunmen contrary to allegations by the Nigeria Army, Police and DSS agents.

    “We have warned Nigeria security agencies to stop linking ESN operatives and IPOB volunteers or members with the hoodlums behind the kidnappings and snatching of cars in the region.

    “It is absolutely clear to all and sundry that Nigeria Government and security agencies and their evil politicians created the unknown gunmen in the region particularly in the Imo State because the state government wants to demonise IPOB and our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

    “I wish to reiterate once again to the general public that IPOB volunteers and ESN operatives are not unknown gunmen contrary to allegations by the Nigeria Army, Police and DSS agents.

    “We have warned Nigeria security agencies to stop linking ESN operatives and IPOB volunteers or members with the hoodlums behind the kidnappings and snatching of cars in the region.

    “It is absolutely clear to all and sundry that Nigeria Government and security agencies and their evil politicians created the unknown gunmen in the region particularly in the Imo State because the state government wants to demonise IPOB and our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

    “We have also, severally explained that our ESN operatives stay in the bushes and forests safeguarding our mothers, wives and sisters who have been the victim of rape and killings by Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen.

    “ESN had no hands in the recent attack at the Isu LGA Divisional Headquarters of Police by unknown gunmen. Those attacking them are those they created to demonise IPOB and its leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

    “Ironically, the monster they created to destroy ESN has turned around to hunt them. They should leave IPOB and ESN out of their problems.”

    Ebubeagu is now the major cause of death in Imo State. They were recruited and given orientation to harm our people and blame it on IPOB and ESN. But they will not succeed in this evil mission.

    “Nigeria police should go and look for those who attacked them at Isu LGA, not IPOB. The worst thing is that they know where those attacking them are staying but they keep on mentioning IPOB and ESN members.

    “We are well ahead of them, and police cannot humiliate us with their fallacious and laughable allegation and media trial. We cannot accept that garbage.”

  • Reps urge COAS, IGP to investigate invasion of five communities in Imo

    Reps urge COAS, IGP to investigate invasion of five communities in Imo

    The House of Representatives has urged the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the invasion of five communities in Ahiazu Local Government Area of Imo by law enforcement agents.

    The house called for the unravelling of the perpetrators of the act, the reason for the invasion and the number of lives and property destroyed as well as the offenses committed by the communities.

    The resolution followed the adoption of an urgent motion of public importance by Rep. Emeka Chinedu (PDP-Imo) on the floor of the house on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The motion listed the five communities as Ihitteafoukwu, Umu Okirika, Oparanadim, Mpam, and Ogbor Umeze in Ahiazu LGA, which have been hitherto peaceful and quiet.

    He said that the invasion commenced in the early hours of Feb. 12, by armed men suspected to be law enforcement agents.

    Chinedu said that the action was contrary to the responsibility of law enforcement agencies “which is to maintain law and order and not embark on actions inimical to fundamental human rights of citizens.’’

    He decried that Nigerians were tired of the high-handedness, unethical conducts and total disregard for rule of law and engagements of law enforcement agents.

    He said though he believed in the fight against unlawful activities or any form of criminality, but it must be anchored on rule of law as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, especially when human lives and property were involved.

    He said there was inherent danger in one-sided narrative as often packaged by law enforcement agents in such circumstances without thorough investigation “ and this is unhealthy for democracy’’.

    He said that it was also an intolerable affront to fundamental human rights.

    The house queried why communities that were not at war must be razed without taking into consideration the adverse effects of rendering the innocent homeless and depriving their loved ones of their breadwinners.

  • Imo state govt to commence restriction on movement of trucks

    Imo state govt to commence restriction on movement of trucks

    In a bid to curtail the influx of trucks in Imo State during the daytime, the state government has announced that, after February 28, it would commence restriction order on the movement of trucks between the hours of 6:00p.m and 6:00 a.m. daily.

    This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Transport, Chief Rex Anunobi, who noted that trucks operator and company that flouts the directive will have the truck impounded and be made to face the wrath of the law.

    According to the statement, the Ministry has also started issuing waiver permits to the deserving truck operators for the year 2022, urging the interested transporters to approach the ministry and not to violate the directive.
    Fresh or renewal opportunities await those routing for expired waiver permits for statutory processing.

    The statement also warned against the wrong approach to seeking for waiver permit, adding that all revenues would be lodged to the Treasury Single Account (TSA), of the State Government via the IIRS.

  • Police arrest suspected killer of retired CSP in Imo

    Police arrest suspected killer of retired CSP in Imo

    Imo Police Command has arrested one of the suspected killer of a retired Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Christian Kpatuma, who was murdered by suspected cultists on Wednesday, at Agwa in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo state.
    Kpatuma was abducted at his residence by a group of young men, suspected to be cultists.
    They took him to a nearby bush where they allegedly killed him, brought his body back and dumped it in front of his compound.
    The command’s spokesman, Mike Abattam (CSP), said in a statement that the suspect, Deberechi Chukwu, the leader of the cult group, was arrested after a discreet investigation.
    Abattam said the suspect was arrested at a border while trying to escape to a neighbouring State.
    The statement said, “following a report of a case of murder received by the Agwa Divisional Police Headquarters that Kpatuma was abducted by a group of young men suspected to be cultist in his house.
    “On receipt of information that Kpatuma was taken to a nearby bush where he was killed and later the corpse was brought back and dumped in front of his compound, the Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Hussaini, immediately dispatched the command’s tactical teams to the Agwa community with a mandate to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
    “On arrival, the team commenced discreet investigation and after diligent gathering of both forensic and technical intelligence, one of the suspects, Deberechi Chukwu, was arrested while escaping to another state.
    The PPRO said in the course of the investigation, it was revealed that the suspect is a notorious kidnapper and an escapee from the Imo Correctional Center, Owerri.
    According to him, the suspect, after escaping from the prison, recruited young men into his cult group and were terrorising the Agwa community.
    “It is also on record that he was involved in the killing of a lot of security personnel in the state.
    “However, he has made useful statement and have volunteered assisting the police in the arrest of other members of his gang currently on the run,” he said.
  • COVID-19: NCDC reports 145 new cases

    COVID-19: NCDC reports 145 new cases

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), registered 145 additional lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in nine states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Saturday.

    The NCDC, via its verified website on Sunday morning, said that the additional infections in the country moved up to 253,685 on Saturday, indicating on Saturday alone, there was an increase from the 35 cases recorded the previous day.

    It noted that three deaths were reported in the country on Saturday, as the country’s total death toll is now 3,139.

    The agency added that Imo state-led on the list with 65 infections, while Lagos, Ondo and Kano reported 36, 20 and 6 cases respectively. Osun and Rivers registered six cases each while other records are the FCT (3), Delta, Kaduna, and Ogun, one each.

    According to it, a total of 230,126 Nigerian residents have recovered from COVID-19.

    The agency added that the Omicron variant is the dominant variant in the country and ‘BA.2,’ the sub-variant of the strain, is more prevalent in India now.

    “The B.1.1.529 lineage of COVID-19 was named Omicron. However, it was discovered later that this lineage has certain sub-variations. The three most common types are: “B.1.1.529.1 (BA.1– currently predominant), B.1.1.529.2 (BA.2 – raised concerns) and (B.1.1.529.3 (BA.3).

    “It could be more infectious, but there has been no evidence that flags it as more harmful,” it added.

    Meanwhile, The World Health Organization (WHO), on February 1, pointed that the BA.2 sub-variant has been detected in 57 countries, predominantly in Asia and Europe.