Eight unknown gunmen have been killed after engaging in a gun battle with joint security operatives on Thursday night.

Vanguard reports that the incident which started in the early hours of Thursday, May 7, 2021, ended at about 9:30 pm with the final battle at Nkwito junction in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State.

Vanguard also reported that some eight vehicles were said to have been recovered from the said hoodlums, as well as sophisticated ammunitions which they used to challenge the joint security forces.

The confiscated vehicles included a Land Rover, Toyota Highlander, Siena, white hummer buses, Umuopia-Akokwa vigilante lion squad security vehicle, among others.

The gunfight with the unknown gunmen reportedly began in the commercial town of Orlu, which was in the news for a similar standoff - this time between members of the armed forces and the Eastern Security Network (ESN)

The exchange of bullets threw the town into chaos resulting in roadside traders, shop owners, banana sellers as well as motorists, commuters forced to abandon their wares to a safer destination, according to Vanguard.ng.

Narrating the incident to Vanguard how it started, an eyewitness said: “On Thursday around 08: 15am, we started seeing some strange movements, that was when the soldiers were trying to locate the “unknown gunmen”.

“Before you know it, from 1pm, we started hearing shootings and we saw it was between the unknown gunmen and the Soldiers. The firing last for more than an hour.

“I saw about two of the soldiers vehicles taken away by the unknown gunmen. If you see these “unknown gunmen” they are powerful, armed to the fullest. The wore black and black and with white material around their neck and covering their back side down to their leg.

“If you see them you will bow. These men are strong and they have weight. They faced the Army and the Army ran away.”

Also, another eyewitness around the Nkwito junction in Orlu, said: “Thursday night the firing was much. All the vehicles of the unknown gunmen were collected from them. What I don’t know is if all the “unknown gunmen ” were killed. I am not close to counting all of them. We were able to get at least eight of them. I think also even some of the members of the joint security forces also were injured. Counting from the time the battle started from banana junction to Nkwito junction.”

Some of the vehicles as well as faces of the said hoodlums.