On January 24, 2025, a successful police operation in Imo State led to the deaths of three terrorist leaders and the recovery of several weapons and explosives. The operation, carried out by the Imo State Police Command’s tactical unit, was based on reliable intelligence that led the officers to a terrorist hideout in a forest in Ihube, located in the Okigwe Local Government Area.

As the police approached, they came under heavy fire from suspected members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed group linked to the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The gunfight resulted in the neutralization of six terrorists, including three key leaders: Ifeanyi Anayo (aka Zuma De Rock), Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe (aka Nmimi), and Kingsley Sunday.

The police also seized a large amount of weaponry and explosives, including five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, several Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), communication equipment, and eight operational motorcycles used by the terrorists.

This successful operation is a significant win for the Nigerian Police in their efforts to reduce terrorism and improve security in Imo State. The neutralization of these terrorist leaders marks a critical step toward restoring peace and safety in the region.

“Prior investigations had revealed the involvement of the group in several high-profile crimes, including the attack on the Owerri Correctional Center on April 5, 2021, the killing of five policemen in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022, and the burning of Arondizuogu Police Station on February 8, 2022.

“The group was also involved in multiple kidnappings, including those of WAEC staff on June 5, 2023, four reverend sisters on August 21, 2022, and four Chinese nationals on December 6, 2023,” the statement added.