Joint security operatives have sacked armed hoodlums in a camp inside a forest in Orsumoghu, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Director Army, Public Relations, Nigeria Army, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this on Tuesday and said the operatives invaded the camp on Monday following a tip-off.
Nwachukwu explained that the raid operation was carried out on Monday, 31 July 2023, when troops were alerted to the violent activities of the irredentist group enforcing the illegal two weeks sit-at-home order in Onitsha, Nnewi and Iheme Obosi in Anambra State, as well as New Market in Enugu state.
He noted that the move was initiated to deter the enforcement of the illegal sit-at-home declared by the criminal groups.
His words:
“Combined troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army, sister Services, Nigeria Police and other security agencies successfully raided hideouts and training camps belonging to IPOB/ESN in Orsomoghu Forest spanning Anambra and Imo States.
“Sadly, five soldiers and two Nigeria Police operatives sustained varying degrees of injuries from IEDs detonated by the criminals.
“During the raid operations, the troops cleared IPOB camps in Ekeututu, Orsomoghu, Lilu and Mother Valley camps of the dissidents.
“Troops came in contact with the group’s armed fighters, who detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), also known as Ogbunigwe and fired using a locally fabricated mortar tube.
“The valiant troops, however, overpowered the irredentist group in the firefight, compelling them to abandon their position as they fled with gunshot wounds into nearby bushes”.
The Nigerian Army encouraged Southeast citizens to continue supporting ongoing operations with actionable information and disregard unlawful two weeks sit-at-home orders by going about their daily activities and businesses.
