Suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) on Thursday, bombed a police station in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
It was gathered that the bandits, who stormed the police station around 6.44 pm in a convoy of five vehicles and three motorcycles, reportedly threw petrol bombs on the roof of the police station, shooting sporadically.
However, the police operatives attached to the station engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel.
One police officer was said to have been badly injured while properties were damaged.
This was confirmed in a statement on Friday by the Imo police spokesman, CSP Michael Abattam.
The statement reads, “The armed bandits, suspected to be members of the IPOB/ESN terror group came to Isiala Mbano Police Station in about five vehicles and three motorcycles threw petrol bombs on the roof of the already damaged building in the Endsars imbroglio and started shooting indiscriminately.
“The police operatives attached to the station returned fire, engaging them in a gun duel. They were able to repel the bandits and in the process they zoomed off in their vehicles and motorcycles.”
He said due to alertness of the police operatives, “no arm was lost. The fire was extinguished not after causing some damages on the building.
“One of the police operatives who sustained gun shot injury was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.”
Abattam disclosed that the Command’s tactical teams have been dispatched to the area in pursuit of the bandits and to beef up security in the area.
