Gunmen on Monday invaded the Umualomokein Okigwe Correctional Farm Settlement, Imo State, killing a Police officer and freeing seven inmates.
Already, the Nigeria Police has blamed the Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) for the invasion, the killing and the abduction.
Sources also confirmed that the gunmen also also abducted the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) officer in charge of the Settlement shortly before attacking the residence of Senator Patrick Ndubeze, who represents the zone in the National Assembly..
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Danjuma Aboki, who visited the scene vowed that no stone will be left unturned in ensuring that the abducted Correctional service officer is rescued unhurt.
Aboki also ordered the immediate deployment of the Command’s Special Tactical Squad to hunt down the suspected IPOB/ESN operatives.
A statement by the Command’s Spokesperson, Henry Okoye, blamed IPOB/ESN for allegedly being “responsible for the attacks on Correctional Service Farm Settlements, Umualomoke and the residence of Dist. Senator Patrick Ndubeze, both in Okigwe, in the early hours of 12/02/2024, which resulted in the release of seven (7) inmates, and abduction of the officer in charge of the farm settlement, and the death of a Police Inspector respectively. “
The statement added that the CP has mandated the special tactical squad operatives to intensify efforts in ensuring that the officer in charge of the farm settlement is rescued unhurt and the fleeing inmates arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.