Troops of the Joint Task Force, South-East, codenamed Operation UDO KA II, have cleared four camps of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliates, Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Imo State.

The troops, in the course of the clearance, neutralised two IPOB/ESN members, and four of the criminals were arrested.

This is contained in a statement on Monday in Enugu by Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, acting deputy director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Nigerian Army for the Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA II.

Mr Unuakhalu said the camps cleared are in three communities – Ihube, Aku, and Umulolo – in the Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State.

He said the clearance and recovery were carried out on Sunday, October 1, 2023.

The army spokesman said that during the clearance operation, troops encountered many Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) deployed en route to the camps.

He said that due to superior firepower, the irredentist group members fled into neighbouring forests with gunshot wounds.

“It was discovered that the camps were being used to perpetuate atrocities such as cannibalism, occultic practices, and ritual killings to instill fears into law-abiding citizens.

“These were evident from many fresh and old corpses discovered while clearing the entire camps.

“Also, the houses of the two spiritual leaders and herbalists that took to their heels were destroyed.

“Furthermore, the shrine of the wanted terrorist, Amobi Chinoso Okafor, alias Temple, where human sacrifices are being made, was destroyed,” he said.

Mr Unuakhalu said the items recovered from the camps included different denominations of the Biafra currencies, one new power bike, four motorcycles, and solar panels.

Other items recovered are POP cement and a petroleum tanker suspected to have been hijacked from Igbo owners (indigenes) trying to make a living.

“Operation UDO KA II will continue combating crime and criminality in accordance with the extant rules and regulations guiding its operations,” he added.

(NAN)