Police officers have neutralised three gunmen, while others escaped with severe bullet wounds after a gun duel in Imufu, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, who made this known via a statement on Friday, August 11, 2023, said the feat was achieved by a combined team of police special forces and police operatives serving in Igbo-Eze North Police Division of Enugu State Command, in the early hours of Thursday, August 10.

Ndukwe listed the items recovered from the gunmen to include four pump action guns, one locally fabricated revolver gun and pistol, each with 67 live cartridges, military camouflage uniforms, suspected fabrics of IPOB insignia, and objects suspected to be amulets, among others.

He stated: “The combined team in the morning hours of Aug. 10 raided a suspected IPOB/ESN camp, at Imufu in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, and the team engaged in a gun duel with the criminals.

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“However, three of the hoodlums were neutralised in the ensuing gunfight, while many others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that the criminals were responsible for the shooting and killing of two Neighbourhood Watch Group security personnel on July 21 at about 1 a.m., at Umuagama in Enugu-Ezike community.

“The hoodlums also made several attempts to enforce the illegal sit-at-home order in some parts of the council area recently.”

The police spokesman noted that the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ammani, has reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the police to weed out unrepentant criminals in the state.

He quoted the commissioner as lauding the police operatives for successfully executing the operation, urging them and others to remain firm, resilient, and maintain the tempo.

“The CP further solicits the continued support of citizens, while urging residents of Igbo-Eze North council area and owners of medical facilities in particular, to promptly report individuals sighted with gunshot wounds to the nearest police station,” Ndukwe added.

The Star