Combined troops of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, the police and other security agencies raided hideouts and training camps belonging to the IPOB-ESN in Orsumoghu forest, spanning Anambra and Imo.

This is contained in a statement by army spokesman Onyema Nwachukwu on Tuesday.

The raid continued ongoing operations to deter enforcement of the illegal sit-at-home order declared by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), in the South-East.

The army said the raid operation was carried out on Monday when troops were alerted of the violent activities of the irredentist group enforcing the illegal two weeks sit-at-home order in Onitsha, Nnewi and Iheme Obosi in Anambra, as well as at New Market in Enugu.

During the operations, the troops cleared IPOB camps in Ekeututu, Orsumoghu, Lilu and Mother Valley camps of the “dissidents.”

According to the statement, troops 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 tubes.

It said the valiant troops overpowered the irredentist group in the firefight, compelling them to abandon their position and flee with gunshot wounds into nearby bushes.

“Further cordon and search of the hideouts by the troops led to the arrest of five fleeing members of the group and recovery of one IPOB flag, one CCTV camera, and two detonated IED bombs and a fabricated mortar tube,” stated the army. “Sadly, five soldiers and two Nigeria Police operatives sustained varying degrees of injuries from the IED detonated by the criminals.”

The army “encourages all law-abiding citizens of the South-East to continue to support ongoing operations with actionable information and to disregard” the unlawful two-week sit-at-home order by going about their daily activities.

“The Nigerian Army, in synergy with sister services and security agencies, will 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,” it said. 

(NAN)