Joint security forces comprising the Nigeria Police Force and the military successfully raided a camp of suspected armed individuals in Ufuma, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, neutralizing five gunmen..
The operation, carried out on Tuesday, followed reports of increased criminal activity in the area.
Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesperson for Anambra State, confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday, attributing the success to seamless collaboration and coordination among the security agencies.
“The team neutralized five members of the armed group, while some others escaped with various degrees of bullet wounds,” Mr. Ikenga said.
He said during the raid, the joint security team dismantled the suspects’ camp, setting it ablaze and recovering several dangerous items.
Among the seized weapons were four undetonated improvised explosive devices (IEDs), two AK-47 rifles, a pump-action gun, and a 75-volt battery.
Mr. Ikenga stated that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to rid the state of criminal elements. He added that the security team is currently pursuing the fleeing suspects who sustained injuries during the confrontation.
Nnaghe Obono, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, has urged residents of Ufuma and its environs to collaborate with security agencies in their fight against crime.
He emphasized that the success of such operations depends on the community’s willingness to share timely and credible information.
While the police did not specify which group the gunmen were affiliated with, past incidents in the region have often been linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). However, IPOB has consistently denied involvement in attacks within the South-east.