Troops of Joint Task Force South-East, “Operation UDO KA”, have carried out clearance operations in camps of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN), apprehending two suspected terrorists.

This is contained in a statement by the spokesman of the task force, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu on Sunday in Enugu.

Mr Unuakhalu said that in continuation of its clearance operations, troops, on December 5, cleared IPOB/ESN Camp at Uhuala- Aku in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo.

“The combined force acting on credible intelligence on arrival at the terrorist’s camp came in contact with the irredentists who were forced to abandon their camp in disarray, escaping into the adjoining forest due to troops’ superior firepower.

“Items recovered included: One G3 rifle, two pump action rifles, three Dane guns, one locally-fabricated pistol, one MG belt, two AK 47 rifle magazines, 12 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and five rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.

“Other items are a sack containing a human skull, one Toyota Hilux vehicle, six radio chargers, 20 car keys and one Boafeng radio.

“Troops also destroyed 26 makeshift accommodations in the camp,” he said.

Mr Unuakhalu also said the troops of sector 2 arrested two suspects terrorising the general area of the Okposi community of Ebonyi and recovered two locally fabricated pistols, nine live cartridges and one motorcycle.

The spokesman said that in another operation, troops of Sector 1, in conjunction with the State Security Service, raided the IPOB/ESN camp in the Agu Orba Ekwegbe community, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.

He said the troops recovered two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), one single barrel gun, 12 rifles under construction, two single revolver pistols, 10 pistols under construction and two pistol magazines.

“Others included 335 rounds of 7.62mm by 51mm live ammunition, 12 rounds of pump action rifle live cartridges and 11 empty cartridges.

“The combined team also recovered 21 military desert boots, eight pairs of military raincoats, three IPOB/ESN flags, a first aid box, six cutlasses, two knives as well as bags of rice and garri. The camp was subsequently destroyed,” Mr Unuakhalu said.

Mr Unuakhalu said the task force commander, Hassan Dada, had called on all well-meaning citizens to embrace dialogue to maintain peace and stability in the South-East.

(NAN)