Men of the IGP Special Interventions Squad (SIS), Abuja, came under attack on Sunday morning by suspected members of the agitating Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) while traveling to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
A police wireless message issued on Sunday disclosed that the incident occurred around 9:00 am at MRS Fuel Station, Abor Umulolo, Okigwe, Imo State.
The report from the Okigwe Division stated that the assailants opened fire on the squad, injuring three officers.
The victims were quickly taken to General Hospital, Okigwe, for medical treatment.
Insp. Umaru Mohammed was declared dead on arrival, while Insp. Omolere Oluseyi and Cpl. Adamu Babajada were stabilised and prepared for referral to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.
Amid the gun battle, the SIS operatives neutralised one of the attackers and recovered one AK-47 rifle (breech no. 533064), three magazines, twenty-eight live rounds of ammunition, and charms.
“Information was received from Supol Okigwe Division mine that men of IGP Special Interventions Squad SIS Abuja on transit to Port Harcourt Rivers State were attacked by suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists at MRS Fuel Station Abor Umulolo Okigwe mine,” the report said.
“ACPol/ Supol Okigwe patrol teams rushed to the scene, met Inspr Omolere Oluseyi ‘M’, Inspr Umaru Mohammed and Cpl Adamu Babajada with various degrees of gunshot wounds. Victims were rushed to General Hospital Okigwe for treatment. Inspr Umaru Mohammed was confirmed dead on arrival by doctor on duty, body deposited at the hospital morgue while the other two are being stabilised for onward transfer to Federal Medical Centre Owerri for more medical attention.”
The police confirmed that no weapons were lost to the attackers, adding that photographs of the recovered items were taken.
Reinforcement teams from SIS Owerri, led by DCP DOPS Owerri, in collaboration with the military and other security agencies, promptly moved to the location to pursue the fleeing suspects.
Authorities have promised that additional information regarding the ongoing operation will be made available.
