Gunmen suspected to be members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), unleashed a deadly assault on three communities in Imo State on Friday morning.
The attackers stormed Ndi-Ejezie, Umualaoma, and Ndiakuwata Uno in Arondizuogu and Ideato North Local Government Areas, leaving residents in panic.
Imo State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident in a statement, describing the attack as “barbaric, inhumane, and totally unacceptable.”
According to the police, over seven people were killed, while several others sustained critical injuries.
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State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, condemned the killings and vowed to hunt down those responsible.
“The Command has deployed adequate operational and intelligence assets to identify, apprehend and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Okoye quoted the CP as saying.
The police further disclosed that a tactical unit, led by the CP, has commenced intensive combing of the affected areas. Authorities assured residents that the situation is under control and proactive measures have been put in place to prevent further attacks.