The combined troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army, sister services, Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies have successfully raided hideouts and training camps belonging to the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and Eastern Security Network, ESN, in Orsomoghu Forest spanning Anambra and Imo states.
The raid was a continuation of the ongoing operations to deter enforcement of the illegal sit-at home declared by IPOB and and its armed wing, ESN.
In a statement released by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Monday, the raid was carried out on Monday, July 31, 2023, when troops were alerted over the alleged violent activities of the irredentist group enforcing the illegal two weeks sit-at-home order in Onitsha, Nnewi and Iheme Obosi in Anambra State, as well as New Market in Enugu State.
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He said during the raid, the troops cleared IPOB camps in Ekeututu, Orsomoghu, Lilu and Mother Valley camps of the dissidents.
Troops, according to him, 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, Nwachukwu said, led to the arrest of five fleeing members of the group and recovery of one IPOB flag, one CCTV camera and 2 detonated IED bombs and a fabricated mortar tube.
He said sadly, five soldiers and two Nigeria Police operatives sustained varying degrees of injuries from the IED detonated by the criminals.
The spokesman said the Nigerian Army encouraged all law abiding citizens of the South East to continue to support ongoing operations with actionable information and to disregard the unlawful two weeks sit-at-home order by going about their normal daily activities and businesses.
He added that the Nigerian Army, in synergy with sister services and security agencies, would undauntedly 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.”
