ENUGU – Troops of 82 Division, Nigerian Army, and the Joint Task Force South-East, code-named “Operation UDO KA” have smashed camps of Indigenous People of Biafra and its Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ ESN) armed wing within South- East.
The troops within days neutralised four IPOB/ESN armed men, rescued 14 people and checked crude oil bunkering within South- East.
This is contained in a statement issued by Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, Acting Deputy Director 82 Division Army Public Relations, on Wednesday in Enugu.
Unuakhalu said that troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army and Operation UDO KA had continued to sustain its offensive against the IPOB/ESN criminals across the South East.
He noted that in series of well-executed operations, troops had successfully repelled and raided the irredentist hideouts as well as clamped down on the activities of illegal oil bunkers within its joint Operation Area.
According to him, early hours of Tuesday, October 22, troops of Sector 5 of Operation UDO KA deployed at Forward Operational Base (FOB) Aguata with other security agencies while on routine patrol within Igbo Ukwu and Uga axis of Aguata council area of Anambra State came in contact with members of IPOB/ESN.
“During the fire fight, troops’ superior firepower forced the criminals to flee in disarray. During the encounter, one IPOB/ESN member was neutralised, two black Lexus Jeeps with no registration number and one pump action gun with three cartridges were recovered.
“On Monday, Oct. 21, troops deployed at FOB Lilu also came in contact with the terrorist group after detonating the Improvise Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted along the supply route.
“The troops successfully neutralised two of the terrorists, recovered one pump action short gun, one solar CCTV camera, three large pipe-Borne IED, seven IEDs and eight batteries,” he said.
Unuakhalu said that similarly, troops of the Joint Task Force on Wednesday, October 9, stormed an IPOB/ESN hideout in the Enugwu Umuonyia community in Aguata council area of Anambra.
He said that overwhelmed in the ensuing firefight, the terrorists fled, leaving behind a cache of arms and logistics.
“The troops swiftly searched and destroyed the hideouts, recovering 78 rounds of 7.62mm and 39mm ammunition, 13 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 20 live cartridges, a pump-action gun, a locally fabricated pistol, an AK-56 magazine and six vehicles found within the camp.
“The stolen vehicles were those stolen from well-meaning Igbos of the region by the criminal elements,” he said.
The spokesman noted that in the same vein, on October 10; troops of 82 Division carried out an ambush operation in Lilu community in Anambra to deter the irredentist freedom of action.
He said that during the ambush troops neutralised one IPOB/ESN member and recovered one handheld radio, four improvised grenade, one encased IED and one solar powered CCTV.
