Police confirm fresh attack on Imo division

The Ehime Mbano Local Government Area Divisional Police Headquarters in Imo State has been set on fire. Police confirmed the attack, but says no life was lost. Buhari appoints Usman Baba as acting IGP Imo attack: IGP orders use of maximum force on IPOB, ESN Police Spokesman, Orlando Ikeokwu, said, “Ehime Mbano division has just […]

The Ehime Mbano Local Government Area Divisional Police Headquarters in Imo State has been set on fire.

Police confirmed the attack, but says no life was lost.

• Buhari appoints Usman Baba as acting IGP
• Imo attack: IGP orders use of maximum force on IPOB, ESN

Police Spokesman, Orlando Ikeokwu, said, “Ehime Mbano division has just been attacked, no casualty on the part of Police, no loss arm, three vehicles burnt.”

Daily Trust gathered that some gunmen broke into the station on Tuesday evening, shooting sporadically before torching the facility.

A resident said the armed men operated unchallenged for more than 45 minutes

The development comes after Ex-Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, inspected the damages caused by gunmen who invaded the headquarters of Nigerian Correctional Centre and the Imo State Police Command in Owerri, the state capital.

Gunmen the police accused of being members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had freed over 1,800 inmates at the correctional centre and razed sections of the police headquarters.

After inspecting the damage caused by the attack, the ex-IGP ordered police officers to use maximum force against IPOB.

“Those that were released by the attackers, I have been told, some of them belong to the IPOB group; the proscribed IPOB group,” he had said.

“We are sending this message to them that there will be no hiding place. They will be re-arrested and many more of the criminals within that group will be arrested.

“Whether in their homes and forest, we are determined to fish them out. I have instructed my men to use maximum force with the guns available to us.

“We have the authority to defend the country, which they don’t have. We will not allow these criminals to succeed.”

That was the last order he gave as the number one police officer in the country as he was replaced hours after.

Usman Baba, a former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, has been appointed in acting capacity.