FIVE soldiers and two policemen sustained various degrees of injuries from the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) detonated Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during clearance operations in Anambra and Imo States.
The director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement, said the troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies successfully raided hideouts and training camps belonging to IPOB/ESN in Orsomoghu Forest spanning Anambra and Imo States and arrested five IPOB fighters.
He said the troops on Monday carried out the operation following information of violent activities of the group enforcing the illegal two-week sit-at-home order in Onitsha, Nnewi and Iheme Obosi in Anambra State, as well as New Market in Enugu State.
General Nwachukwu said the troops during the raid 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 locally fabricated mortar tube,” he stated.
He added that the troops, however, overpowered the irredentist group in the firefight, forcing them to abandon their position and fled with gunshot wounds into nearby bushes.
The troops in a 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 2 detonated IED bombs and a fabricated mortar tube.
“Sadly, five soldiers and two Nigeria Police operatives sustained varying degrees of injuries from the IED detonated by the criminals.”
He therefore, called law abiding citizens of the South East to continue to support ongoing operations with actionable information and to disregard the unlawful two weeks sit-at-home order by going about their normal daily activities and businesses.
He assured that the Nigerian Army in synergy with sister services and security agencies will 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.
