Troops of Joint Task Force, South East Operation, UDO KA II, have arrested two suspected terrorists and recovered arms in Orsu, and Okigwe local government areas in Imo State.
According to a statement issued on Friday, 6th October 2023 by Lt. Col. Jonathan Unuakhalu, the arrests, and weapon recovery, which were made by the troops while conducting clearance operation on 5th October, was as a follow to the desire to apprehend the IPOB/ESN terrorists that are on the run from its last clearance operation.
The operations conducted along Ihioma – Ihittenansa in Orsu Local Government Area and Okigwe – Umulolo in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State respectively, were aimed at identifying and destroying possible camps of the fleeing IPOB/ESN terrorists killing and maiming as well as extorting innocent citizens of the South East region in the name of agitation.
During the simultaneous clearance operations, at Umulolo, one of the troops’ vehicles was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). However, no causality was recorded.
Troops also came in contact with the terrorists who fled into the nearby bushes with gunshot wounds due to superior firepower. Two suspects were arrested and items recovered at Umulolo include; two locally-made guns, ammunition, one PKT machine gun barrel, one big locally made Rocket Propelled Launcher (Ogbunigwe,) andIED-making materials.
Others include three CCTV cameras, two laptops and a charger, eight mobile phones, three boots, camouflage short, two motorcycles and a beret. Furthermore, three shrines used by the terrorists for fortification were destroyed.
On the clearance operations and fighting patrols along Ihioma-Ihittenansa in Orlu LGA, troops, far from being deterred by IEDs, made contact and engaged some IPOB/ESN terrorists around Eketutu Market, who fled into the adjourning forests of Lilu and Mother Valleys with gunshot wounds on motorcycles.
Troops also recovered 2 CCTV cameras carefully concealed at the highest point in the area and some IED-making materials. Troops successfully cleared the terrorists from the Eketutu market.
“Operation UDO KA II will continue combating ritual killings, cannibalism, kidnapping for ransom, and extortion of hardworking and law-abiding citizens. These terrorists, mostly the condemned criminals that escaped from Owerri jailbreaks are low lives that are being used by a criminal abroad to unleash mayhem on all of us. All Ndigbos should join hands to ensure these terrorists do not determine how we live our lives. Law-abiding and good citizens of the Southeast region are enjoined to provide timely, credible and reliable information to end the insecurity in the region”, the statement read.
