The Police has confirmed that Eastern Security Network (ESN) fighters controlled by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) killed Ahmed Gulak in Imo.
Gulak, an Adamawa Indigene, was the Political Adviser to former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
After the gruesome murder of Gulak on Sunday, intelligence services immediately indicted the ESN militants.
But Biafra supporters dismissed the publication, insisting Gulak’s murder was “political assassination”.
A statement Sunday night by SP Bala Elkana, Public Relations Officer, Imo Command, announced that the secessionist group perpetrated the act.
The spokesman recalled that the Police acted immediately after a distress call about Gulak was received.
The Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Tactical Units from the command were deployed to the scene at Obiangwu Junction at Ngorokpala LGA.
They were given a clear instruction to identify and apprehend the culprits, Elkana noted.
Relying on the account of witnesses and the driver of Gulak’s car, operatives tracked the vehicles used by the assailants.
They include Toyota Camry 2005 model – silver color; Toyota Sienna 1998 Model – gold color; Toyota Hilux – white color; and a Lexus RX 330 – gold color.
The Police was able to establish the location of suspects and rounded them up at Afor Enyiogugu junction in Aboh-Mbaise LGA.
The hoodlums had distributed onions to locals from a trailer they confiscated after it arrived from the North. As agents moved in, they opened fire and tried to use residents as shield.
“The six hoodlums who carried out the killings and four other members of their gang were fatally injured. Three out of the four vehicles used in attacking Gulak were recovered”, Elkana said.
“AK 47 Rifles, Pistol, magazines with ninety two rounds of live ammunition and charms were recovered. The assailants were identified as members of the proscribed IPOB and ESN.
“The driver who drove late Ahmed Gulak and a co-victim who survived have all identified the dead body of the IPOB/ESN members positively as their attackers and also identified the three vehicles recovered as those used by the attackers.”
Two police Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) were riddled with bullets. The Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro has hailed officers in the operation for the triumph.
Gulak was trailed from his hotel room to the spot where he was killed.
POLICE IN IMO HAVE NEUTRALISED THE KILLERS OF AHMED GULAK
*RECOVERED THREE AK47 RIFLES, ONE PISTOL, FIVE AK47 MAGAZINES WITH 92 ROUNDS OF LIVE AMMUNITION
*RECOVERED THREE OUT OF THE FOUR VEHICLES USED IN THE ATTACK
On 30th May, 2021 following a distress received by the Command on the gruesome murder of Ahmed Gulak, Police Special Forces made up of Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Tactical Units from the command were deployed to the scene at Obiangwu Junction at Ngorokpala LGA of Imo state. The teams were given a clear instruction to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of the act with a view of bringing them to justice.
- Eye witnesses account, especially the account given by the Driver of the vehicle that was conveying Ahmed Gulak to the Airport before the attack, gave a vivid description of the assailants and the vehicles they used in carrying out the attack. The assailants were said to have used a Toyota Camry 2005 model with silver color; Toyota Sienna 1998 Model with golden color; Toyota Hilux with white color; and a Lexus RX 330 with golden Color. (Registration numbers are withheld for security reasons).
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Having established the identity of the assailants and the description of the vehicles used in carrying out the attack, the teams further got details of the direction the hoodlums have taken. With further leads, the team was able to establish the location of suspects. The suspects were rounded up at Afor Enyiogugu junction in Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area. The hoodlums where met distributing onions to locals from a trailer they confiscated. The trailer was loaded with Onions from the Northern region of Nigeria.
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On sighting the Police, the hoodlums providing security coverage to those sharing the onions opened fire on the Police teams. The Gallant and battle ready Police Officers swiftly returned the fire. The six hoodlums who carried out the killings and four other members of their gang were fatally injured. Three out of the four vehicles used in attacking Gulak were recovered.
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Three AK 47 Rifles, one Pistol, five AK 47 magazines with ninety two rounds of live ammunition and criminal charms were recovered.
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The Commissioner of Police Imo State, CP Abutu Yaro, fdc commended the gallant effort of the team and admonished them to continue to protect the public space.