Police kill two suspected attackers of Imo force headquarters, correctional centre

•Two others feared dead in Owerri invasion
Operatives of Imo State Police Command have killed two suspected attackers of the April 5, 2021 assault on the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) Custodial Centre and police headquarters in Owerri.

Their elimination was confirmed in a statement issued yesterday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bala Elkana.

Uchenna Elendu of Umukusu Ocha area and Elu Osinachi of Umuobube Awara in Ohaji Local Council of the state were named as the culprits.

The spokesman said his men engaged the suspects in a gun duel for hours before overpowering them.

The statement read: “In response to the mandate given to the Commissioner of Police, Imo State, Abutu Yaro, by the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to ensure that the hoodlums, who attacked the command headquarters, Owerri and the Correctional Centre, Owerri are apprehended, the command, on May 24, 2021, at about 1820hours, carried out a well-coordinated operation at Ocha Community, Awara in Ohaji/Bema Local Government Area, Imo State.

“The hoodlums were engaged in a gun battle. During the gun duel that lasted for about two hours, two suspects believed to have masterminded the attack at the police headquarters and the correctional centre, Owerri on April 5, 2021, were fatally injured. The suspects were Unchenna Elendu ‘m’ of Umukusu Ocha area and Elu Osinachi ‘m’ of Umuobube Awara.”

Elkana continued: “The two suspects were taken to hospital for medical examination. The doctor on duty confirmed Uchenna dead on arrival, while Osinachi Elu who was in coma, was subsequently confirmed dead.”

The statement added: “One AK 47 rifle with breach number 11654 and a cache of live ammunition were recovered. Also recovered are a number of expanded ammunition, machetes and criminal charms tied around the waist of the suspects.

“The operation will be sustained until all the perpetrators of the dastardly attack are brought to justice.”

BESIDES, two persons were feared dead in Owerri, as unknown gunmen invaded the city yesterday, causing panic in the Imo capital.

The duo, whose photographs went viral on the social media, were part of a team that had allegedly set ablaze the reconstruction work on police posts destroyed during the #EndSARS protests in the state.

In another statement, police spokesperson Elkana said the operatives repelled the attack, arresting five suspects in the process.