A total of six assailants were killed.

One of them, Joseph Uka Nnachi alias Dragon, was said to be the squad commander of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN).

The police said he was responsible for over 70 per cent of the killings in the Southeast.

On April 5, gunmen attacked the command headquarters with explosives, destroying several vehicles and freeing over 600 detainees.

Its spokesman, Bala Elkana, said Dragon and his gang were neutralised before they could access the headquarters.

“They made effort to access the police headquarters through Works Layout around Avan Nursery and Primary School but were vehemently repelled.

“They came in a white Hummer bus. Five of the hoodlums were killed during an exchange of fire and others were injured. The Hummer bus is recovered.

“Four Ak47 rifles all belonging to police officers they killed in two police stations, six bombs, 2,000 rounds of AK47 ammunition, seven AK47 magazines and two operational buses, one loaded with explosive were recovered.

“The joint teams of the police and Army gallantly fought and neutralised the IPOB/ESN terrorists after several minutes of fierce gun battle along Works Road, near the Police Headquarters.

“All the charms the notorious killer Joseph Uka Nnachi aka Dragon, native of Ebonyi State and his group were using which they so much believed in have failed them once more,” said the police.

The spokesman told our correspondent that one of the gang members was captured alive and “has made a useful statement”.

Governor Hope Uzodimma said the government was doing everything to ensure that peace returned to Imo.

He spoke while addressing worshippers at the Government House Chapel, Owerri, after service.

“Today (yesterday), the security architecture of government yielded another huge success as the combined efforts of security agencies in the state repelled another attempt on the police headquarters in Owerri.

“It was an attempt by the bandits to release some criminals in police custody, particularly most of those that have confessed to having committed the crimes for which they were arrested and detained,” the governor said.

The assailants set the station on fire and torched its operational vehicle donated by the community and the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

Police spokesman Bright Edafe said the gunmen, numbering about 20, threw improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at the station.

“It is pertinent to state that no life was lost and no arm was taken away. However, the police will not relent in ensuring that law and order are maintained in any community,” he said.