DPO, six gunmen killed as bandits attack Uzodinma’s hometown

Gunmen suspected to be militants of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) have killed a Chief Superintendent of Police, (CSP) Fatmann Dooiyor.

Dooiyor, who was the Divisional Police Officer for Omuma, Governor Hope Uzodinma’s community in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, killed when the gunmen invaded the community.

The armed gang struck on the day IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was to be arraigned at a Federal

High Court in Abuja.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer of Imo State Command, CSP Mike Abattam, six of the gunmen were killed by the police while 11 were arrested.

Abattam said the gunmen in a convoy of three vehicles invaded the community but were repelled by police led by the Area Commander, ACP Benjamin Abang.

He said that the police were alerted when bandits were sighted moving in convoy into Omuma town.

Abattam

said, “The

tactical teams of the command immediately swung into action, ambushed and launched a surprised attack on the convoy of the bandits which resulted in the neutralisation of six of the bandits while 11 of them were arrested at the station.

“Unfortunately, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Fatmann Dooiyor paid the supreme price.

“The teams later recovered the three vehicles abandoned by the bandits to the station which includes, two Toyota Highlander SUV vehicles with registration numbers Abia MBL 517 AT and LAGOS JJJ 984 EL respectively and a milk colour unregistered Lexus Jeep to the station.

“Presently, the command’s tactical teams and special forces led by ACP Evans E. Shem are combing the bush for possible arrest of the bandits that fled into the bush,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, there was tension in the Orlu area of the state as security agents ordered traders to close shops for one week.

One of the traders who spoke to our correspondent on phone, said “We went to the shop this morning and discovered that soldiers on patrol along the Orlu-Owerri Road near the building materials and timber markets in Orlu were not allowing us to open our shops.

“They said we should go home for one week. When we asked them why, they said it was because we were absent from our shops yesterday (Monday).”

Our correspondent further learnt that this caused a large gathering of traders and passersby along the busy road.

For most of yesterday, heavilyarmed policemen were seen patrolling major streets in the metropolis and its environs.

The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Mike Abattam, was not available for comments.