Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector-General of Police, has insisted that the perpetrators of the seemingly coordinated attacks on the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Owerri, and the Imo Police Command Headquarters are members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its security outfit, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Adamu’s position was made known in a statement issued by Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, on Monday.
The attacks occurred in the early hours of Monday, as the hoodlums set the prison facility ablaze and freed an unspecified number of prison inmates.
The gunmen also razed the Imo State Police Command headquarters situated in Owerri and burnt almost all the vehicles parked at the command headquarters.
In his reaction, Adamu Adamu condemned the acts, noting that the IPOB members purportedly attacked the two places with sophisticated weapons.
He, however, noted that despite the best efforts of the hoodlums to cart away weapons, the police armoury in the state remains intact.
The statement read: “Preliminary investigations have revealed that the attackers, who came in their numbers with sophisticated weapons such as General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), Sub-Machine Guns (SMGs), AK49 rifles, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), are members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The attempt by the attackers to gain access to the Police armoury at the Headquarters was totally and appropriately resisted by Police operatives on duty who repelled the attackers and prevented them from breaking-in and looting the armoury.
“The armoury is thus intact! Similarly, the police suffered no human casualty, apart from a police Constable who sustained a minor bullet wound on his shoulder.”
Adamu also directed the Commissioner of Police in the state and a new Special Investigation Team “to carry out holistic investigations into the incident with a view to fishing-out the perpetrators and bringing them to justice”.
“The IGP, who described the deliberate and criminal attack on security operatives as an attack on the soul of our nation, has enjoined leaders in Imo State, the South-East and other parts of the country to speak out against the unfolding violence and criminality.
“The IGP calls on citizens to avail the Police and other security agencies with useful information that can assist in identifying and arresting the criminals.
“He vowed that the perpetrators will be brought to book, noting that the Force is doing all within its powers to curb the activities of unscrupulous elements hell-bent on threatening the unity, safety, security and socio-economic wellbeing of Nigerians,” the statement added.
IPOB has, however, denied being behind the attacks, saying it is not a faceless group.
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