
The Nigeria Police Force has reported a major success in its ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, as operatives from the Imo State Command eliminated three key leaders of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), a militia linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In a statement released by Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, it was revealed that the operation took place on January 24, 2025, when police operatives, acting on reliable intelligence, launched a well-coordinated strike aimed at locating and dismantling ESN hideouts in the state.
The operatives, part of the Command’s tactical unit, tracked the terrorists to a forest in Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area. Upon closing in on the hideout, the police team came under heavy fire from the armed ESN members. The operation ultimately led to the neutralization of six terrorists, including three high-profile ESN leaders: Ifeanyi Anayo (a.k.a. Zuma De Rock), Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe (a.k.a. Nmimi), and Kingsley Sunday.
The police also recovered a significant cache of weapons and equipment, including five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), various communication devices, and eight operational motorcycles used by the group.
Adejobi highlighted that prior investigations had linked the ESN members to numerous criminal activities, including the 2021 attack on the Owerri Correctional Center, the December 2022 murder of five police officers in Umunna, Okigwe, and the February 2022 arson of the Arondizuogu Police Station. The group was also involved in multiple kidnappings, including the abduction of WAEC staff in June 2023, four reverend sisters in August 2022, and four Chinese nationals in December 2023.
This successful operation marks a significant blow to the terrorist organization, as authorities continue to strengthen security in the region.
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