Gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN) have killed two policemen in an attack on Isu Police Division.
The hoodlums stormed the station in two Toyota Sienna buses, a Toyota Camry car and many motorcycles, shooting sporadically before throwing petrol bomb that razed the station.
In a statement on Monday evening, the police Command spokesman CSP Michael Abattam said the incident occured on Sunday around 2330 hours.
He said: “Armed men suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN attacked the station from the rear axis because, the station has no perimeter wall, shooting sporadically, threw petrol bombs and Improvised Explosiveto be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/ Eastern Security Network (ESN) Devices (I.E.D) that ignited the station.”
According to him, the police operatives of the division immediately responded by engaging the hoodlums in a gun duel.
“Due to the superior firepower of the Police, the hoodlums were dealt a heavy blow and they scampered for safety, running in different directions with various degrees of gunshot wounds,” he added.
He said the hoodlums were chased into two hotels in Isu where 17 male and a female suspects were arrested and undergoing interrogation.
Other items recovered include a total of 12 motorcycles without identification numbers and two vehicles one Lexus RX350 SUV and one Lexus RX330 SUV believed to have been used by the hoodlums.
He said that the fire and Improvised Explosives Devices (IED) used by the hoodlums affected “some vehicles and part of the building of the division and unfortunately, two police officers paid the supreme prize, while one sustained minor bullet injury on his head.” The Nation.