Six gunmen were today killed in Orlu, Imo State, in a bloody gun duel with the police.

Also, at least two persons, allegedly enforcing Monday’s sit-at-home order in Anambra State, were killed today during a gun battle with operatives.

The gunmen killed in Imo State, according to earlier reports, attempted to burn down the Palace of the Imo State Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Highness Eze Dr E. C Okeke.

A report in the Vanguard newspaper, for example, said the incident, which took place on Monday around 8 am, occurred when the hoodlums in their numbers were sighted in three Hilux vehicles, shooting sporadically, fiercely advancing towards the Eze’s Palace to unleash mayhem.”

Police spokesman, CSP Michael Abattam, who confirmed the report said “on receipt of the information, the Command’s Tactical Team, joined by the military, immediately mobilized and rushed to the palace.

“On their way, the hoodlums on sighting the combined team engaged them in a gun duel, throwing petrol bombs. The gallant team responded, positioning themselves professionally,” Abattam said.

He added, “In the exchange of gun fire that ensued, the hoodlums were overwhelmed due to the superior fire-power of the combined team and in the process, six of the hoodlums were neutralized while others escaped with various degrees of gunshot injuries.”

According to the police spokesperson, the operatives recovered one pump action gun, three blood stained cutlasses and three Hilux Vehicles suspected to have been snatched from innocent citizens.

He said calm has been restored in the area and the corpses of the neutralized bandits removed and deposited in the mortuary.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Anambra State, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, also confirmed the killing of the two enforcers in a statement issued in Awka and made available to newsmen.

A report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Ikenga as saying that the incident occurred in Umunze, the headquarters of Orumba South Local Government Area.

He said trouble started when “the hoodlums” started obstructing the movement of road users, who were going about their lawful businesses.

He added that the deceased forcefully collected motorcycles and tricycles from their operators, chased the passengers away and set the machines on fire.

He said: “The operatives on crime prevention patrol on Umunze Road in the early hours of Monday, May 16 engaged armed gunmen allegedly enforcing sit-at-home in the state.

“The operatives neutralised two of the miscreants and recovered a white Toyota Hiace Bus with no registration number.”

According to him, the command has intensified surveillance within the state to ensure that the situation is brought under control.