Two suspects believed to have masterminded the attacks on the Police Command Headquarters and Correctional Centre in Imo State have died of gunshot wounds.

Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, confirmed the death of the suspects in a statement.
He identified the suspects as Unchenna Elendu and Elu Osinachi of Umukusu Ocha and Umuobube Awara areas of the state.
Elkana noted that the feat was recorded on Monday following a well-coordinated operation conducted at Ocha community in Awara in Ohaji/Bema Local Government Area of Imo.
He explained that the operation was in response to the mandate given to the Commissioner of Police in Imo, Abutu Yaro, by the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to ensure the hoodlums who attacked the command headquarters and correctional centre were apprehended.
The command spokesman noted that the suspects were engaged in a gun battle that lasted for about two hours, saying they were fatally injured.
He added, “The two suspects were taken to hospital for medical examination. The doctor on duty confirmed Uchenna dead on arrival while Osinachi Elu who was in coma, was subsequently confirmed dead.”
According to him, the police recovered an Ak-47 rifle with breach number 11654 and a cache of live ammunition from the suspects.
Also recovered were a number of expanded ammunition, matchets, and charms tied around the waists of the suspects.
Elkana assured the residents of the state that the operation would be sustained until all the perpetrators of the attacks were brought to justice.
The police command headquarters and the Owerri Custodial Centre, both in the state capital, were attacked on April 5.
Authorities of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) put the figure of inmates who fled the correctional facility after the attack at 1,844.
They, however, noted that six of the fleeing inmates voluntarily returned to the facility while 35 others refused to escape from custody.
The incident was condemned by the Federal Government and the state government, as well as various individuals and groups in the country.

Earlier, Sporadic gunshots were reported as gunmen engage security operatives in a gun battle in the Orji area of Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Elkana, the Police Public Relations Officer in Imo, confirmed the incident in a statement.
Following the shootout which caused tension in the area, the police arrested five of the suspects who were said to have attempted to stop the reconstruction of a police station in the area.
Those arrested by the security operatives include Chigaemezu Sabastine, Casmir Ibe, John Chinonso, Chukwudi Okoro, and Alozie Daberechi.
The affected police station – Orji Divisional Headquarters – is located near the Government House and a correctional facility in Owerri.
According to Elkana, hoodlums in their number launched an offensive on the reconstruction site of the police station.
He noted that the divisional police headquarters was earlier burnt by hoodlums during the #EndSARS protest in October last year and a philanthropist contracted the reconstruction project.
“The hoodlums, who believed that the re-establishment of a functional police station may prevent them from carrying out their nefarious acts in Orji and environ, decided to invade the construction site.
“Before the arrival of reinforcement team, the hoodlums melted into the neighbouring township area but abandoned their operational vehicles,” the command’s spokesman said in the statement.
He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police in Imo, Abutu Yaro, personally led the enforcement team to the scene.
Elkana stated that no life was lost during the shootout and the police recovered three vehicles from the suspects.
He assured the residents in the area that a mop-up operation was ongoing to arrest more suspects and recover their firearms.
While the police stated that no death was recorded in the incident, unconfirmed reports said some persons were hit by stray bullets.