The police in Imo State, South-east Nigeria, have reported the neutralization of five gunmen who were terrorizing residents. According to Henry Okoye, the police spokesperson, these individuals were killed during security operations conducted over the past two months. These operations were authorized by the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Aboki Danjuma, and have led to significant successes in combating crime.

During these operations, apart from the five armed suspects who were killed in gun battles, seven kidnapped victims were successfully rescued. In a separate operation, police operatives arrested 147 crime suspects for various offenses, including armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, rape, stealing, receiving stolen property, child trafficking, and terrorism. Among those arrested was Ozioma Ihedoro, a 37-year-old native doctor who had been on the police wanted list.

Ihedoro confessed to being the spiritual adviser to a commander of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), known as “B44.” A search of his shrine led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, three magazines, and seven live rounds. He is currently cooperating with investigators, providing intelligence to dismantle other syndicates.

On May 19, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad arrested three male armed robbery suspects: Chinonso Anayo, 24, Emmanuel John, 21, and Ifeanyi John, 20, all from Ishiagu Community in Ivo Council Area of Ebonyi. These suspects were apprehended during a surveillance operation and confessed to multiple robberies. The police recovered one Q-Link motorcycle, two pump action guns, and fifteen live cartridges.

In total, the police recovered seven AK-47 rifles, three AK-47 magazines, seven pump action guns, seven locally fabricated long guns, and 178 live cartridges from the suspects during the separate operations. Additionally, they seized three motorcycles, various denominations of illegal Biafra currency, four Biafra flags, and several charms.

Commissioner of Police Danjuma commended the operatives for their successful operations and stressed the state command's commitment to safeguarding lives and property. He assured that security measures had been strengthened across the state to eliminate kidnapping and violent crimes. He urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police.

Imo State, like other states in Nigeria’s South-east, has experienced deteriorated security with frequent attacks by armed persons targeting security agencies, government officials, and facilities. The Nigerian government has repeatedly accused IPOB of being responsible for these attacks, a claim the group denies. IPOB is advocating for an independent state of Biafra carved out from the South-east and parts of the South-south Nigeria, leading to ongoing clashes with Nigerian security operatives.