Muyiwa Adejobi Police Public Relations Officer
Operatives from the Imo State Police Command have successfully raided a notorious terrorist hideout in Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area, resulting in the deaths of six gang members.
This criminal group has been linked to numerous crimes, including the attack on the Owerri Correctional Centre, the murder of five policemen, the arson of Arondizuogu Police Station, and several kidnappings across Imo State. Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, announced the operation in a statement shared on the Force’s Facebook page on Saturday.
On January 24, 2025, acting on actionable intelligence, the Command’s tactical unit launched a coordinated operation to locate and dismantle the terrorists’ hideouts. The officers identified the terrorists’ lair in a forest within Ihube, Okigwe LGA, and moved in on the suspects.
According to Adejobi, the police operatives faced heavy gunfire from suspected IPOB/ESN militants as they approached but displayed remarkable bravery, engaging the attackers in a fierce gun battle.
The statement noted, “The operation led to the neutralisation of six members of the terrorist group, including three key figures from the Eastern Security Network (ESN): Ifeanyi Anayo a.k.a. Zuma De Rock (28), Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe a.k.a. Nmimi (22), and Kingsley Sunday (21)—all natives of Ogube, Ihube in Okigwe Local Government Area. The police also recovered five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), communication equipment, and eight operational motorcycles used by the gang.
“Previous investigations have established the group’s involvement in several high-profile crimes, such as the assault on the Owerri Correctional Centre on April 5, 2021, the shooting of five policemen in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022, and the arson attack on Arondizuogu Police Station on February 8, 2022. The group is also implicated in multiple kidnappings, including that of WAEC staff on June 5, 2023, four reverend sisters on August 21, 2022, and four Chinese nationals on December 6, 2023.”
Adejobi stated that this operation is part of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to restoring peace and public safety nationwide, underscoring the significant achievement in combating terrorism through the neutralisation of three dangerous ESN kingpins.
In response, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun praised the operatives for their exceptional courage and teamwork. The IGP urged officers across various commands and formations to maintain their focus and implement the Force’s action plan aimed at significantly reducing crime in the first quarter of 2025.
Adejobi reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s unwavering dedication to ensuring national security and public safety, urging the public to “remain vigilant and collaborate with the Nigeria Police Force to promote peace and create a safer environment for all citizens.”
