Security operatives have killed three members of the outlawed Eastern Security Network in a joint operation in
Ebonyi State.
The operation which took place at Onicha Isu LGA of the state involved the Police Command Tactical Operation Team, the Military and operatives of the Department of State Service.
The Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Chris Anyanwu, a superintendent of police, said in a statement on Wednesday that the operation was in reaction to the cold blooded murder of a police officer by the violent hoodlums.
The Police Spokesman said that operatives carried out the raid following intelligence that the hoodlums were at a camp at Isu Onicha.
He said that the security operatives who were ambushed on the way to the criminal’s hideout outgunned them after 30 minutes of fierce fighting.
He said that the operation is ongoing to apprehend some of the fleeing injured ESN operatives in the area.
“While surveying the one-way route into the camp, the combined security forces were ambushed by the hoodlums who rained sporadic bullet shots in their direction.
“In a swift and spontaneous response, the joint team engaged the hoodlums in a counter-firing that lasted over 30minutes and neutralized them.
“As a result of the superior fire power of the joint team, some of the hoodlums with bullet-wounds scampered for escape in different directions.
“The team later combed the bush and recovered two AK rifles with a few rounds of their ammunition and three corpses of the assailants.”
He gave the list of items recovered from the camp to include: “One AK-49 rifle breech number 1984-AM1196, One AK-47 rifle breech number 1971-DF2726, One AR rifle with illegible breech number; 147 rounds of AR ammunition, 38 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, one locally fabricated double-barrelled pistol, Two walkie-talkie sets and their chargers, Two charm-like substances, One hospital card, One Diamond bank ATM card, Two National ID cards, One Techno phone battery, and other incriminating items.