Police thwart attack on Imo council of traditional rulers chairman

The Police Command in Imo says its operatives foiled a gunmen's attack on the Chairman, Council of Imo Traditional Rulers, Eze Emmanuel Okeke, at his Amaifeke palace in Orlu Local Government Area on Tuesday.

The command’s spokesman, ASP Henry Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, said a local security operative died from gunshot wounds after the attack.

“Police operatives of Orlu Divisional Headquarters, in a joint operation with the Local Vigilantes of Amaifeke Ancient Kingdom, Orlu, foiled attempts to invade the palace of the Chairman Council of ImoTraditional Rulers, the Traditional Ruler of Amaifeke Ancient Kingdom, HRH Eze Emmanuel Okeke, at Amaifeke in Orlu LGA of Imo State, on July 18, 2023, at about 1415 hrs.

“The hoodlums came in their numbers, shooting sporadically and fighting their way into the palace, but were given stiff resistance by Police operatives and local vigilantes, who professionally took vintage positions and engaged the hoodlums in a protracted gun duel,” he noted.

Okoye said the stiff resistance by the joint security operatives forced the hoodlums to flee to the adjourning bushes with various degrees of gunshot injuries.

According to him, two local vigilante operatives, whose names are withheld for security reasons, were fatally injured in the ensuing gun duel and immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

“Unfortunately, one of them died while receiving medical attention, while the other is in stable condition.

“On combing the adjourning bushes, blood stains were seen, which evidentially suggested that the hoodlums were fatally hit,” he noted.

Okoye said that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Barde, had directed that the people of Amaifeke Kingdom go about their lawful business as adequate security measures have been put in place to forestall future occurrences.

He said an intensive manhunt for the assailants had been launched, noting that the suspects would be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.

“More so, the CP beckons on the general public, particularly owners of hospitals and first aid outlets, to swiftly reportpersons seen with or treating gunshot injuries in the state to the nearest Police station,” he stressed.

He further urged members of the public to call 08034773600 or 08098880197, the command’s emergency numbers.