Chidiebere Iwuoha
Combatant police operatives of in a joint operation with the local vigilantes of Amaifeke Ancient Kingdom, Orlu on Tuesday at about 1415hrs foiled attempts to invade the Palace of the Chairman, Council of Imo State Traditional Rulers.
The Traditional Ruler is of Amaifeke Ancient Kingdom, and he is HRH Eze Dr. E.C. Okeke at Amaifeke in Orlu LGA of Imo State.
The attack was reportedly masterminded by hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed militia Eastern Security Network (ESN).
According to the Imo Police Command’s spokesman, ASP Henry Okoye, ” the hoodlums who came in their numbers shooting sporadically and fighting their way into the Palace were given a stiff resistance by Police operatives and local vigilantes who professionally took vintage positions and engaged the hoodlums in a protracted gun duel, forcing them to flee to the adjourning bushes with various degrees of gunshot injuries.”
He added that two local vigilantes whose names were withheld for security reasons were fatally injured in the ensuing gun duel and immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
But unfortunately, one of them died while receiving medical attention, while the other was in a stable condition.
On combing the adjourning bushes later, blood stains were seen which evidentially suggested that the hoodlums were fatally hit.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde calls on the good people of Amaifeke Kingdom to go about their lawful business as adequate security measures have been emplaced to forestall future occurrences. An intensive manhunt for the assailants is ongoing. They will be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.
“Moreso, the CP beckons on the general public particularly owners of hospitals and first aid outlets to swiftly report any person (s) seen with or treating gunshot injury in the state to the nearest police station,” he said.
