•Arrest five suspected members, recover detonated two IEDs
Combined troops of 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police and other security agencies carried out a successful raid of hideouts and training camps belonging to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Orsomoghu Forest spanning Anambra and Imo states.
This was a part of ongoing operations to deter enforcement of the illegal sit at home declared by IPOB/ESN.
Confirming the successful raid on Tuesday, August 1, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said that the raid was carried out on Monday, July 31 when troops were alerted to the violent activities of the group enforcing two weeks sit-at-home order in Onitsha, Nnewi and Iheme Obosi in Anambra State, as well as New Market in Enugu State.
During the raid, Nwachukwu stated, the troops cleared IPOB camps in Ekeututu, Orsomoghu, Lilu and Mother Valley camps of the dissidents.
He said that the troops came in contact with the group’s armed fighters, who detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) also known as Ogbunigwe and fired using locally fabricated mortar tube.
“The valiant troops however overpowered the irredentist group in the firefight, compelling them to abandon their position as they fled with gunshot wounds into nearby bushes.
“Further cordon and search of the hideouts by the troops led to the arrest of five fleeing members of the group and recovery of one IPOB flag, one CCTV camera and two detonated Improvised Explosive Device (IED) bombs and a fabricated mortar tube,” the Army spokesman said.
He however disclosed that five soldiers and two Nigeria Police operatives sustained varying degrees of injuries from the IED detonated by the criminals.
He said that the Nigerian Army has encouraged all law abiding citizens of the South East to continue to support ongoing operations with actionable information and to disregard the two weeks sit-at-home order, which he described as unlawful, by going about their normal daily activities and businesses.
He added that the Nigerian Army, in synergy with other services and security agencies would continue to protect and safeguard lives and property of the good and enterprising people of South East Nigeria, within the ambit of the law and the rules of engagement.
