The Imo State Police Command has successfully eliminated six terrorist kingpins linked to the Eastern Security Network (ESN) during a tactical operation in Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area.
In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, OluMuyiwa Adejobi, three of the six suspects—identified as Ifeanyi Anayo (a.k.a. Zuma De Rock), aged 28; Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe (a.k.a. Nmimi), aged 22; and Kingsley Sunday, aged 21—all natives of Ogube, Ihube, were implicated in several high-profile criminal activities.
These include the April 5, 2021, attack on the Owerri Correctional Center, the killing of five policemen in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022, and the February 8, 2022, burning of the Arondizuogu Police Station. The group was also responsible for multiple kidnappings, including those of WAEC staff on June 5, 2023, four reverend sisters on August 21, 2022, and four Chinese nationals on December 6, 2023.
Acting on credible intelligence, the police tactical unit located the terrorists’ hideout in a forest within Ihube. During the operation, the team came under heavy fire from the suspects but demonstrated exceptional courage, engaging the attackers in a fierce gun battle.
Recovered items from the operation include five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), several communication devices, and eight operational motorcycles.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, lauded the officers for their bravery and coordination. He urged police operatives nationwide to sustain the momentum and implement the Force’s action plan to drastically reduce crime in the first quarter of 2025.