The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has explained what led to the clash between security agencies and members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) in Enugu State yesterday.
In a statement by the state police public relations officer ASP Daniel Ndukwe, the force said the members of the proscribed group had gathered in a school in Emene area of the state for training.
Mr Ndukwe said while they were gathering, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrived the venue to foil the training from taking place but had some of them abducted by members of the seccessionist group.
He said on receiving the report, the commissioner of police in the state, Ahmad AbdurRahman, immediately deployed operatives led by Enugu Metro Area commander to rescue the abducted operatives and restore normalcy.
“On getting to the scene, the operatives, who were joined by those of DSS, Army and Air Force, came under serious gunfire attacks by the hoodlums,” the police spokesman said.
“They responded and in the ensuing gun duel, two of the hoodlums were gunned down while some of them escaped with bullets wounds.
“The Operatives successfully restored normalcy and rescued one of the DSS Operatives, who were at the said school to disperse the hoodlums from their unlawful assembly while two others were found lifeless in the scene and later confirmed dead.
“Five members of the group were arrested and they confessed to being members of the proscribed IPOB, and had gone to the school to hold a meeting and be trained in martial act and self-defense skills.
“Machetes, cut-to-size woods with nails affixed, phones and other items were recovered at the scene.
“Meanwhile, before getting to the scene, the hoodlums had macheted and gruesomely killed a young man, set another ablaze, while also attacking Police personnel resident in the area,” he added while warning hospitals against rejecting treatment of patients with bullet wounds without notifying the police.
