In a confrontation that took place at Nkwo Market in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, armed individuals claiming to be associated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) reportedly engaged in a shootout with the police.

According to reports, these armed men arrived in large numbers on motorcycles and began firing indiscriminately, with the intention of both robbing a bank and enforcing a sit-at-home order issued by a faction of IPOB.

The Anambra State police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, responded to the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday. He explained that the criminals sought to disrupt commercial activities and vehicular movement within Ihiala.

However, a combined team of police and other security forces swiftly intervened, thwarting the assailants’ plans.

The joint security operatives, having strategically positioned themselves, dispersed the illegal sit-at-home enforcers from the proscribed IPOB group and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Nkwo Market.

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Ikenga further revealed that the armed group members, armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, were forced to abandon their intended actions due to the swift response of the security forces.

While the confrontation resulted in a stray bullet hitting the leg of the bank’s chief security officer, he was promptly taken to the hospital and is currently receiving treatment. Thankfully, no loss of life was reported.

Following the incident, the police and other security forces have reinforced patrols, enhanced security dominance, and intensified surveillance across the state.

This achievement was made possible through the improved operational strategies and positioning of personnel and valuable assets, as directed by the Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng.

To ensure the safety of the public, the police spokesperson advised individuals to contact the Command Control Room or the Public Relations Officer in the event of any security concerns.

Additionally, he mentioned the availability of the “npf rescue me app” for free download on Android and Apple IOS platforms, offering further assistance to Android and iPhone users, respectively.