Gunmen suspected to be members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Tuesday afternoon engaged joint security operatives in a gun battle in Ihiala Local Government Area.
KanyiDaily had reported that there is a heavy security presence in Ihiala on Tuesday to ensure the smooth running of the ongoing supplementary election in the ares.
While the Anambra governorship election holding in Ihiala was underway, it was gathered that the gunmen were seeking to enter Ihiala through Imo State.
The joint security operatives comprising mobile policemen, Army, Navy and other security agencies repelled the gunmen at Mbosi and Orsumoghu, as where the attack happened are border towns with communities in Imo State.
Reporters who were covering the supplementary governorship election in Ihiala ran into a barricade set up by joint security operatives at Mbosi/Orsumoghu junction.
The security operatives stopped journalists, and after a brief search, turned the journalists back, disclosing that a gun battle was ongoing ahead.
Two unidentified policemen and a soldier who spoke to reporters said: “You have to go back for your own good. For three hours now, we have been exchanging fire with your IPOB brothers.”
“Our men are in the bush now, and it will be risky for you to take this route,” the security operatives advised journalists.
When contacted, the Anambra State commissioner of police, CP Echeng Eworo, refused to confirm the development, asking that the reporter should call back later.
It was also noticed that a team of security men loaded in 10 Hilux vans, heading to Mbosi/Orsumoghu junction as reinforcement, as of the time of filing this report.
KanyiDaily had also reported how the security operatives have stopped a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Umeh from entering Ihiala local government headquarters in Anambra State.
