In a decisive operation carried out jointly by the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police, three combatants associated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and their armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), were eliminated in a fierce encounter.
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu the Army spokesman in a statement said, the confrontation unfolded during a clearance mission conducted in the early hours of Monday, September 18, 2023, within the Igboro Forest, situated between Arochukwu and Ohafia Local Government Areas of Abia state.
Following their victory in the firefight, the combined forces wasted no time in eradicating several concealed encampments employed by these groups for the commission of grievous crimes.
The discovery of these camps came after several weeks of credible surveillance efforts, which had unveiled the forest’s usage as a training ground for combatants and a base for orchestrating attacks on targeted civilians, security personnel, and government installations within the state.
Upon further exploration of the camp, the valiant troops successfully recovered an array of weapons and munitions, among other items. The seized inventory included an improvised 16 Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) mounted on a vehicle, an improvised 12 MBRL Gun, an improvised 6 MBRL Gun, an AK-47 Rifle, a Dane Gun, six locally crafted Rocket Launchers, four Improvised Explosive Devices, five Fragmental Jackets, a Baofeng Radio, Military Camouflage Uniforms, and numerous assorted charms.
In a parallel development that transpired on the same day, September 18, 2023, during the early hours, the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the Nigerian Police Force, acted upon reliable intelligence to dismantle an IPOB/ESN hideout located in Ezioha Mgbowo, within the Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu state. The armed combatants were in the midst of planning the enforcement of an unlawful sit-at-home order in the region when the vigilant troops swiftly descended upon them.
Upon spotting the approaching troops, the armed fighters initiated gunfire, but they were decisively defeated in the ensuing battle. Three of the combatants were neutralized, while the remaining members fled in disarray. The troops also confiscated three Pump Action Guns and 10 Machetes from the retreating individuals.
Members of the public are urged to continue supporting the efforts of the Nigerian Army and other law enforcement agencies by providing credible information that can bolster the fight against terrorism, insurgency, and other criminal activities.