Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Faruk Yahaya,
Army raids Anambra, Imo IPOB/ESN camps kill one, arrest three
[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]
Nigeria Army said troops of 82 Division on Wednesday, February, 23,2022, raided the dens of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN) at Azia, Orsumoghu, Lilu Forest, Mbosi and Uli in Ihiala and Orsu Local Government Areas of Anambra and Imo States, respectively, killed one person and arrested three.
A statement by the director of Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, said during the clearance operations, troops overpowered and routed the dissidents, who it claimed staged an ambush against the troops.
“The troops then proceeded to clear Lilu Forest, where they were met with resistance from the outlawed group. The criminals were again over ran by the troops who effectively cleared Lilu Forest and the adjoining areas earlier occupied by the dissidents”, the statement added.
According to the statement, during the clearance operations, the troops uncovered decomposing remains of kidnapped and murdered victims dumped in a deep well by members of the irredentist groups.
“Also, while conducting the operations, the troops encountered and cleared four ambush sites along Orsumoghu-Mbosi – Ihiala-Uli roads dislodging the irredentists from their criminal havens.
“The gallant troops neutralized one of the criminals, arrested three suspects and recovered one Pump Action Shotgun, two live Cartridges, two mobile phones, One black coloured Toyota Hilux vehicle, a polythene bag containing substances suspected to be Cannabis and the sum of N1, 920”.
The statement further disclosed that “in a separate operation conducted on Thursday February 2022, troops of the division in collaboration with the Nigerian Police bursted an IPOB/ESN syndicate that disrupted the just concluded Local Government Council elections at some polling stations in Nkanu West of Enugu State.
“The troops uncovered seven AK 47 rifles, two Pump Action rifles, 10 rifle Magazines, eight live cartridges, 74 live rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, one hand grenade, a tipper truck containing 3 corpses among other items.
“The items have been handed over to Enugu State Police Command for further action.”
