The police have repelled an attack by gunmen on Omuma, Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, which is Governor Hope Uzodimma’s hometown.
At least seven persons including the Divisional Police Officer, DPO of the town, a Chief Superintendent of Police, (CSP) Fatmann Dooiyor were killed in the attack.
The other six were reportedly the militants involved in the attack on Uzodimma’s hometown that was also the place of an attack earlier in the year.
The armed gang struck on Monday night, a day, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was to have been arraigned at a Federal High Court in Abuja. The coincidence has fueled speculations in some quarters that IPOB militants could have been behind the attack.
A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer of Imo, CSP Mike Abattam, said six of the gunmen were killed by the police while 11 were arrested.
According to him, the bandits came in a convoy of three vehicles and invaded Uzodimma’s community but were repelled by police led by the Area Commander, ACP Benjamin Abang.
Abattam said, “The tactical teams of the command immediately swung into action, ambushed and launched a surprised attack on the convoy of the bandits which resulted to the neutralisation of six of the bandits while, 11 of them were arrested to the station.
“Unfortunately, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Fatmann Dooiyor paid the supreme price.
“The teams later recovered the three vehicles abandoned by the bandits to the station which includes, two Toyota Highlander SUV vehicles with registration numbers Abia MBL 517 AT and LAGOS , JJJ 984 EL respectively and a milk colour unregistered Lexus Jeep to the station.
“Presently, the command’s tactical teams and Special forces led by ACP Evans E.Shem are combing the bush for possible arrest of the bandits that fled into the bush,” the statement added.
