Police Destroy Criminal Camps, Neutralise Three Suspected ESN Members In Imo

The Imo State Police Command has destroyed a deadly terrorist camp and neutralised three suspected members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

According to the Nigeria Police Force Public Relation Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in a statement on Saturday said that Operatives of the Commands tactical unit following credible information launched a coordinated attack on the criminal den at a forest within Ihube, Okigwe LGA on Friday.

He said the criminals on sighting the police opened fire but the superior fire power of the Commands tactical unit led to the death of six members of the terrorist group with three among the dead suspected to be core members of ESN.

The suspected core members identified as Ifeanyi Anayo a.k.a. Zuma De Rock (28), Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe a.k.a. Nmimi (22), and Kingsley Sunday (21)—all natives of Ogube, Ihube in Okigwe Local Government Area according to Adejobi were involved in the Owerri Correctional Facility jail break in April 2021, the killing of five policemen in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022, and the burning of Arondizuogu Police Station on February 8, 2022 amongst other high profile criminal activities within the state and it’s environs.

He said: “On January 24, 2025, operatives from the Command’s tactical Unit following credible intelligence launched a coordinated operation aimed at locating and dislodging the terrorist hideouts.

“The police operatives located the terrorists’ hideout in a forest within Ihube, Okigwe LGA. Upon approach, the operatives came under heavy fire from suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists but demonstrated exceptional courage and engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle.

“The operation resulted in the neutralization of 6 members of the terrorist group, with 3 being ESN kingpins identified as Ifeanyi Anayo a.k.a. Zuma De Rock (28), Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe a.k.a. Nmimi (22), and Kingsley Sunday (21)—all natives of Ogube, Ihube in Okigwe Local Government Area, and the recovery of five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), several communication equipment, along with 8 operational motorcycles used by the group.

“Prior investigations had revealed the involvement of the group in several high-profile crimes, including the attack on the Owerri Correctional Center on April 5, 2021, the killing of five policemen in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022, and the burning of Arondizuogu Police Station on February 8, 2022.

“The group was also involved in multiple kidnappings, including those of WAEC staff on June 5, 2023, four reverend sisters on August 21, 2022, and four Chinese nationals on December 6, 2023.”

Police Destroy Criminal Camps, Neutralise Three Suspected ESN Members In Imo is first published on The Whistler Newspaper