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ONE KILLED, AK-47, VEHICLES RECOVERED AS POLICE, SUSPECTED ESN MILITANTS CLASH IN ANAMBRA
A fierce two-hour gun duel broke out early Tuesday morning between police-led joint security forces and suspected members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) at the Ekwulobia Roundabout near the flyover in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.
According to a security situation report filed by the Commander of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Aguata, the encounter occurred around 7:00 a.m. on July 9, 2025, when the police team was en route to Oko town following a distress call.
The commander stated that the team had just begun a routine morning parade when they received an emergency call from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Oko, who reported that his station was under heavy attack. The team immediately mobilised and moved towards Oko.
However, upon reaching the Ekwulobia Roundabout, the officers were ambushed by armed men believed to be members of the ESN militia.
The police team responded swiftly, engaging the attackers in a sustained gun battle that lasted approximately two hours. The militants were eventually repelled due to what the police described as “superior firepower and tactical advantage.”
In the aftermath of the clash, security forces recovered an AK-47 rifle with breach number 58-84010385, fully loaded with a double magazine of ammunition. One of the attackers was also confirmed dead at the scene, while others reportedly fled with varying degrees of bullet wounds.
Additionally, four vehicles abandoned by the militants were recovered: A custom-coloured Mercedes Benz GLK without a registration number; a gold-coloured Lexus RX 330 with registration number ENU-815 AP; a custom-coloured Toyota Highlander with registration number GDD-517 RW (Anambra); and a red Toyota Camry with registration number ENU-58 SC.
The police have since launched a search operation to track down the fleeing suspects and monitor the area for any further threats.
The commander assured that normalcy has been restored and efforts are ongoing to ensure the safety of residents in the affected areas.
