Seven suspected hoodlums have been killed in Anambra State by a joint security team of the police and military.
LEADERSHIP Friday gathered that the suspects were killed on Wednesday at two locations in the state.
The first incident occurred at Ifite, Ogbunike in Oyi local government area in the early hours of that day when a team of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the state police command attached to Awkuzu in an attempt to rescue two kidnap victims gunned down two members of a gang of the abductors who engaged the police team in a gun duel.
The police team later recovered a black Lexus SUV and some security agents uniforms including those of the police and military from the hideout of the hoodlums at Ifite, Ogbunike.
According to the police public relations officer in the state, Ikenga Tochukwu, the second encounter happened at 3pm that day at Akwaihedi village, a border town of the state in Nnewi-South local government area with Orlu area of Imo State.
He said following credible information, a joint police and military task force trailed a gang of hoodlums operating in motorbikes coming into Anambra to carry out an operation and they were suspected to be members of the IPOB/ESN.
He said the IPOB/ESN members engaged the security operatives in a gun duel and in the process five of them were killed.
The police spokesperson said the security team recovered two rocket launchers, four AK-47 rifles, one automatic pump action gun, four magazines, eight live ammunition, police berets, charms and some other incriminating items from the IPOB/ESN members.
The image-maker expressed happiness that the synergy between the operatives of the state police command, the military and other security agencies including the vigilantes was yielding immense achievements in area of fighting crimes in the state, and, assured the commitment of the commissioner of police in the state, CP Echeng Echeng in sustaining the operation until crime rate in the state is reduced to the barest minimum.
He urged members of the public to continue to partner with the state police command by volunteering credible and prompt information about criminals and assure that such information would always be handled with utmost confidentiality by the command and its operatives.
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