By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Njaba thick forest has been barricaded by operatives of the Imo state Police Command.
The State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro on Saturday in Owerri disclosed reasons for barricading the forest.
He said that the Police has cordoned off the Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, after two suspected hoodlums were killed in a gun battle with the Police and others fled into the thick forest of Njaba with gun shot injuries.
The Police said as quoted by the Vanguard, “On 31/7/2021 at about 01:20 hours, a convoy of bandits moving towards Njaba Town to launch an attack but were intercepted by Operation Restore Peace team of the Nigeria Police , Imo State Command.
“And in the ensuing fire fight, one of their operational vehicle was demobilised and two of them neutralised and the remaining ones scampered into the bush. On searching the vehicle one Ak 47 rifle was recovered with ten rounds of live Ammunition and a locally made double barrel pistol with two expended cartridges. They detonated an Improvised Explosive Devices into the parking lots of a nearby Njaba Police Station causing minimal damage.
“Meanwhile, cordon and pursuant exercise is on going in the area and members of the public residing in the area should not panic as the ongoing Police clearance operation is designed to root out violent criminals in that axis and they should avail Police information of persons seen treating bullet wounds or hiding within the community be reported to the nearest police station.”
