Troops from 82 Division of Nigerian Army, the police and other security agencies have successfully raided and destroyed hideouts and training camps of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the Orsomoghu forest, which spans across Anambra and Imo states.
The operation, reportedly executed on Monday, was prompted by alerts of the group’s disruptive activities in several regions including Onitsha, Nnewi, and Iheme Obosi in Anambra State, as well as the New Market in Enugu State.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this through a statement on Tuesday that during the operation, troops cleared Ekeututu, Orsomoghu, Lilu, and Mother Valley camps belonging to the separatist group. Encounters with armed fighters from the group led to exchanges of gunfire.
Despite the group’s deployment of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and locally fabricated mortar tubes, the valiant troops overcame the resistance, causing the militants to flee their positions with gunshot wounds.
The subsequent search operation by the troops led to the arrest of five fleeing group members and the recovery of an IPOB flag, a CCTV camera, two detonated IED bombs, and a fabricated mortar tube.
Unfortunately, five soldiers and two Nigeria Police operatives sustained various degrees of injuries from the IEDs detonated by the criminals.
The Nigerian Army urged all law-abiding citizens of the South East to continue their normal daily activities and businesses, disregarding the unlawful two-week sit-at-home order.
They also encouraged residents to support ongoing operations with actionable information.
The Army, in synergy with sister services and security agencies, vowed to protect and safeguard lives and property within the framework of the law.