The Nigerian Army says six combatants of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) lost their lives in a separate clearance operations by security agents in Enugu and Abia States.
Three of the hoodlums met their waterloo in the fierce encounter with troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police operatives during one of the operations in the early hours of Monday 18 September 2023.
Army spokesman, Brigadier-General,
Onyema Nwachukwu said in a statement on Monday that the Camp at Igboro Forest, between Arochukwu and Ohafia Local Government Areas of Abia State, was used by members of the outlawed group as a base for planning and launching attacks on targeted Civilians.
In another operation in the early hours of on Monday September 18, 2023, gallant troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army in synergy with the Nigerian Police Force, crushed IPOB/ESN hideout at Ezioha Mgbowo in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The statement said the intervention followed a credible intelligence by the security agents, which revealed he armed fighters were perfecting plans to enforce the illegal sit-at-home order in the area, when the troops swooped on them.
The Army said a similar clearance operation also took place in the early hours of today, September 18, 2023, troops attached to the 82 Division NA in synergy with the Nigerian Police Force, crushed IPOB/ESN hideout at Ezioha Mgbowo in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Brigadier-General Nwachukwu explained in the statement that “the armed fighters, who opened fire on sighting troops approaching their camp were however defeated in the fire fight that followed a credible intelligence”.
He further explained that as “the troops responded with overwhelming fire power, neutralizing three of the fighters, while others fled in disarray”.
Accordingly, gallant troops recovered several weapons and ammunition, including one improvised 16 Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) gun mounted on a vehicle, one improvised 12 MBRL gun and one improvised 6 MBRL gun were recovered at the base.
Others are one AK 47 Rifle, One Dane gun, 6 locally made Rocket Launchers, four Improvised Explosive Devices, five Fragmental Jackets, one Baofeng Radio, Military Camouflage Uniforms and several assorted charms at the base.
The Army spokesman revealed that the troops recovered three Pump Action guns and 10 Machetes from the fleeing fighters from the hoodlums.
He advised members of the public 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.
Leave a Reply