The Nigeria Police Force has reported the death of a suspected leader of a criminal gang allegedly involved in the killing of an Imo State traditional ruler and five other people.
The suspect, identified as Ojiogu Elumah Martin, also known as “Acid”, was killed during a shootout with police operatives in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
Force spokesperson, Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, explaining that the operation followed intelligence gathered on members of the syndicate believed to be responsible for the April 10 attack.
According to him, operatives of the Special Tactics Squad and the Force Intelligence Department carried out a series of operations between August 2 and 6 as part of efforts to track down those connected to the incident.
He said officers moved against Martin’s hideout in the early hours of Thursday, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
“In the course of the encounter, the suspect sustained injuries and later died,” Iniedu said.
Police recovered an AK-47 rifle, three magazines and 56 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition from the scene.
The police said Martin was allegedly a senior member of the criminal group suspected of carrying out the attack that claimed the lives of Eze Barrister Paulinus Ekwueme, Ochia I of Ochia Kingdom, and five others.
The victims were reportedly attacked along the Asa/Awara Road in Ohaji/Egbema while returning to Owerri.
Iniedu further disclosed that four suspects had already been arrested over the incident, while two other members of the gang were killed during earlier encounters with security operatives.
He said the police had intensified efforts to track down other fleeing members of the syndicate, determine the full scope of their involvement and recover additional weapons and intelligence linked to the crime.