Troops of 82 Division, Nigerian Army and other security agencies have successfully raided hideouts of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), at Imufu in Igbo-Eze North, Local Government Area of Enugu State.

In a statement on Friday, army spokesperson, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu said the troops operating under the auspices of Operation UDO KA II, in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), State Security Service (SSS), and other security agencies, subdued the group with superior firepower, neutralising two fighters.

He said the troops recovered three semi-automatic pump action rifles and a locally-fabricated single barrel gun during the encounter.

He added that the troops and SSS apprehended a notorious ESN commander, Mr Ezege, in a separate sting operation at Obinagu in the Udi Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the arrested ESN commander recently threatened to unleash mayhem in Enugu via his viral video and audio message circulated on some social media platforms.

He said the suspect is currently in custody for further investigations.

Nwachukwu said troops of 130 Battalion, operating in 13 Brigade Area of Responsibility under 82 Division, in collaboration with DSS operatives, also smashed a notorious syndicate of gun runners at Obudu in Cross River.

He said the operation followed credible intelligence revealing the illicit activities of the gun runners in the Obudu and Biaju general areas.

He said the leader of the gun-running syndicate was nabbed in the sting operation alongside his accomplices comprising two Nigerians and two Cameroonians.

Mr Nwachukwu said the preliminary investigations had revealed that the accomplices purchased firearms, which they, in turn, sell to an intermediary, who supplies the arms and ammunition to Ambazonian Separatists in the Republic of Cameroon.

He added that a subsequent operation on Thursday led to the arrest of the gun-running kingpin, Raphael, aka Biajua, a Cameroonian, at Biajua community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State.

He said the troops recovered four semi-automatic pump action rifles and four mobile phones.

“The Nigerian Army enjoins the general public to remain vigilant and report any untoward activity to the security agencies in support of ongoing operations to curb security challenges,” he said.

(NAN)