“We Will Fish You Out Either Dead Or Alive”- Police Vows Amidst Renewed Attacks In Imo State By Gunmen

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

An embarrassed Imo State Police Command has stated that some hoodlums and criminal elements have resorted to waging a guerilla war on the State.

It has been bad in Imo State in the past two days as gunmen run wild, even within the Owerri State Capital.

Reports indicate that the situation has been anything but good as gunmen prowl the roads and streets from Orji, Egbu, the Shoprite areas, all in Owerri North.

Owerri West was not spared either as gunmen attacked and killed four Policemen and a civilian in one fell swoop at Irete on Tuesday.

Panic-gripped Imo residents are sending out text messages warning people to stay indoors. There is confusion and people are asking: Where are the Police and other Security Agencies?

These attacks came on the heels of assurances to the people by the Imo State Police  Command that it was in full charge.

However, in the face of the attacks, the Police has assured again that it will deal with the miscreants responsible for the attacks and killing of security operatives ,as well as innocent members of the public .

With less than two days after mauling down four police personnel and a civilian, some suspected   armed members of the   Autopilots faction of Simon Ekpa’s Indigenous peoples of Biafra IPOB ,on Wednesday July 31, held parts parts of Owerri captive.

Residents of Owerri/Okigwe road ,Douglas Road ,Aba road and Imo State University junction all in the capital city were confined to their residences as a result of heavy attacks on the areas by the gunmen .

Others on routine business activities were forced to abandon them and ran for their lives amidst  the sporadic exchange of gun fire between the attackers and Security Operatives.

In a brazen show of audacity, the gunmen, also, attempted to invade the Owerri Correctional Centre, but were resisted by Security Operatives.

The Imo Police Command Spokesperson, Henry Okoye, while speaking, blamed the ugly development on IPOB.

He described the  gunmen as pure cowards who have decided to operate under cover to unleash mayhem on innocent people.

“They are pure cowards. The criminals are suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB and Eastern Security Network ESN who have adopted a guerilla strategy whereby they come out from their enclaves, unleash a surprise attack and go back into hiding” he noted

He has, however, promised that all efforts are being made to track the attackers down by security agencies

“The Commissioner of Police has personally led men to the scene. The Command is on top of the situation.

“We will get the miscreants responsible for these senseless attacks either dead or alive,” the police vowed.

The Source reports that the ongoing attacks particularly on vulnerable spots may not be unconnected with the activities of enforcers of the one week sit-at-order earlier proclaimed by Simon Ekpa group on the Southeast region .

The Finland-based leader of the IPOB faction had  billed the sit-at-home for between Monday July 29 and Saturday August 3 2024 .