IPOB responsible for attack on Prison, Police headquarters in Imo – IGP

The attacks on a police command headquarters and a federal prison in Imo state, according to Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu, were carried out by representatives of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

In the early hours of Monday, gunmen targeted the facilities in Owerri, the capital of Imo state.

The invasion, according to Adamu, was carried out by the Eastern Security Network, an IPOB organization.

Frank Mba, police spokesperson, in a statement on Monday, said: “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.”

The IGP, who characterized the incident as an assault on “the soul of the country,” urged citizens to help the police by providing valuable information that would lead to the gunmen’s arrest.

He also urged leaders in the region to “speak out against the escalating violence and criminality.”

The IGP has directed the deployment of additional squads “to improve security in the state and deter further attacks on security formations or any other vital national infrastructure in the state,” according to the police spokesman.

He added that a vehicle believed to have transported the gunmen had been found, and that the Imo commissioner of police had been ordered to form a special investigation team to deal with attacks on security formations in the state.

“The CP is to harness the security reinforcement squads and other operational assets at his disposal to take the battle to the door-steps of the attackers and prevent any further attack anywhere within the state and its environs,” Mba added.