Troops of 82 Division in conjunction with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Nigeria Police, and the Department of State Services (DSS) on Exercise Golden Dawn II have conducted joint raid operations at camps of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and its armed affiliate the Eastern Security Network (ESN), located at Amagu village Nkalaha community, Ishielu Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that during the raid operations on Monday, the troops came in contact with members of the dissident group, resulting in exchange of fire. In the encounter, the troops neutralised some of the irredentists, while others took to their heels abandoning the camp.
A statement on Wednesday by Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director Army Public Relations, obtained by this newspaper, provided details of the operation: “On winning the fire fight, troops recovered 102 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2 Pump Action guns, 5 locally made rifles, 1 roll of Detonator 27, quantity 24 Detonators, 33 electrical cables, quantity 12 of type 36 Hand Grenades and 12 bags of substances suspected to be Marijuana. Other items recovered include, 3 Motorcycles, 2 Generators, 1 Water pumping machine, Military woodland camouflage and Nigeria Police uniform.”
It added: “In a separate operation on the same date, troops on routine patrol in Agubeji community in Enugu state have arrested a suspect, one Mr Martins Abogwu, for conniving with IPOB/ESN elements to unleash attacks on innocent citizens.
“The suspect, who claimed he is the Chief Security Officer of the community is assisting in the preliminary investigations that followed and has led troops to their camp, where a shallow grave containing 2 decomposing bodies were uncovered. One of the corpses has been identified as a member of the local vigilante, who was kidnapped about a month ago.
“The Nigerian Army reassures law abiding citizens of its unwavering resolve, in synergy with other services and security agencies to deny criminal elements the freedom of action and progressively rid the nation of identified threats to national security by executing its constitutional responsibilities in conformity with extant rules of engagement.
“The NA also encourages members of the public to work harmoniously with the security agencies to collectively make the South East and the entire nation secured and peaceful.”
