Gunmen have killed two police officers at the Izombe Police Divisional Headquarters in the Oguta Area of Imo State.

The attackers invaded the police station at about 2 am on Saturday and engaged police officers on duty in a gun battle which led to the death of two officers and three gunmen.

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Michael Abattam, the spokesperson for Imo State Police Command, told The Punch that the attackers were suspected members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the combat wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

“On August 13, at about 02:45 hours, armed bandits suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN terror group, came in their numbers to attack Izombe Police Station but could not gain access to the station due to the swift response of the ever-alert Imo Command’s tactical teams and personnel of Operation Restore Peace of the command who intercepted and repelled the bandits,” he said.

“The bandits, who on sighting the police engaged them in a gun duel, were subdued due to the superior firepower of the police. They fled into the bush and in the process three of them were neutralised and their arms, one pump action gun, two rounds of live cartridges and one locally made double barrel pistol with two expended cartridges, were recovered from them to the station. The command lost two of its gallant officers in the attack.

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“Meanwhile, the tactical teams are in pursuit of the bandits and combing the bush for the arrest of the fleeing bandits and possible recovery of their arms.

“The command is using this medium to call on the good people of Imo State, especially the Izombe community, to assist the police with credible information that will lead to the arrest of the fleeing bandits and to report to the nearest police station any person(s) seen with bullet wounds.

“Also, hospitals are advised to ensure that they report any person(s) who go to them for treatment of bullet wounds.”