A team of joint security forces made up of troops of the 82 Division Nigerian Army and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force have neutralised 3 combatants of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
TheFact Daily reports that the joint security forces were engaged in a fierce encounter with the combatants during a clearance operation in the early hours of Monday 18 September 2023, at Igboro Forest, between Arochukwu and Ohafia Local Government Areas of Abia State.
The joint team, after the gun battle in which they triumphed, destroyed several hideous camps used by members of the groups to perpetrate heinous crimes.
The camps uncovered after several weeks of credible surveillance revealed that IPOB/ESN was using the forest as a combat training ground for their members and as a base for planning and launching attacks on targeted civilians, security operatives, and government facilities in the state.
The troops recovered several weapons and ammunition, amongst which were 1 improvised 16 Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) Gun mounted on a vehicle, 1 improvised 12 MBRL Gun, 1 improvised 6 MBRL Gun, 1 AK 47 Rifle, 1 Dane Gun, 6 locally made Rocket Launchers, 4 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) 5 fragmental jackets, 1 Baofeng radio, military camouflage uniforms and several assorted charms.
In a similar development that also took place in the early hours of Monday, the same troops of 82 Division NA in synergy with the Nigeria Police Force, acting on credible intelligence busted an IPOB/ESN hideout at Ezioha Mgbowo in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu state.
The armed fighters were planning to enforce the illegal sit-at-home order in the area, when the vigilant troops swooped in on them.
The armed fighters opened fire on sighting troops approaching their camp but were defeated in the firefight that followed. Three of the fighters were eliminated in the fire exchange, while others fled in disarray. The troops recovered 3 Pump Action Guns and 10 Machetes from the fleeing fighters.
“Members of the public are implored to continue to support the Nigerian Army and other security agencies with credible information to enhance the fight against terrorism, insurgency, and other criminal activities”, Nwachukwu stated.
