DSS confirms 2 operatives dead in bloody clash with IPOB

 

BY NICHOLAS ABE

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The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the death of two of its personnel following a bloody clash with members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Emene, Enugu State, on Sunday.

DSS spokesman Dr Peter Afunanya said the attack on its personnel was unprovoked.

But media report had it that some security men stormed an IPOB meeting at Community Secondary School, Emene and attempted to disperse the group. The action was said to have been resisted by the group and the encounter turned bloody.

One of the arrested IPOB members, Ebube Agu, told journalists that they were having a martial art training for self-defence when they were accosted.

Agu, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report published by vanguardngr.com, said that they were not armed as claimed by the police.

The police command in Enugu said four persons were feared dead during the clash.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Ahmed Abdurahman, said it arrested five IPOB members involved in the clash.

He told newsmen that trouble started when the DSS went on a covert operation in Emene early Sunday morning but were overwhelmed and two of their officials allegedly abducted by IPOB members.

Abdurahman said that DSS called in police and army backup for rescue. He noted that the police were able to rescue one of the DSS officials in a building where he was held hostage.

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“However, four persons lost their lives; two were hacked to death with machetes and one passer-by set ablaze.

“Many of the IPOB members also escaped with bullet wounds and police have started tracing them,” he said.

The DSS in a statement Sunday night said: “The DSS wishes to inform the public that its patrol team was, today, 23rd August 2020, attacked in Emene, Enugu State by members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

“The Service lost two personnel in what was clearly an unprovoked violent attack launched by IPOB on the team.

“The Service hereby condoles with families of the departed officers and also prays for the repose of their souls.

“However, all measures have been put in place to ensure that their killers and everyone involved in this dastardly act are promptly apprehended and brought to justice. Consequently, a full-scale investigation will be carried out with regard to the incident.”

Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has appealed to citizens to remain calm as normalcy had returned to the state after the clash between security agencies and IPOB.

Ugwuanyi made the appeal when he visited the scene of the clash. He urged residents of the area to go about their normal businesses.