Nigeria, May 26 -- The police in Imo State, South-east Nigeria, say they have killed five gunmen terrorising residents of the state.

Henry Okoye, the police spokesperson in the state, in a statement on Sunday said police operatives killed the gunmen during security operations in the last two months in the state.

Mr Okoye, a deputy superintendent of police, said the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Aboki Danjuma, authorised the operations which have resulted in significant successes in combating crime.

"In the course of the operations, five armed suspects were neutralised during fierce gun battles with police operatives, and seven kidnapped victims were successfully rescued," the police spokesperson said.

Mr Okoye said, in a separa...