By Cajetan Mmuta
Troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army on Wednesday conducted operations to clear criminal havens of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN) operating at Azia, Orsumoghu, Lilu Forest, Mbosi and Uli in Ihiala and Orsu Local Government Areas of Anambra and the Imo States respectively.
Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement said the troops overpowered and routed the dissidents, who staged an ambush against the gallant troops during the clearance operations.
He said the troops then proceeded to clear Lilu Forest, where they were met with resistance from the outlawed group.
Nwachukwu said the criminals were again overrun by the troops who effectively cleared Lilu Forest and the adjoining areas earlier occupied by the dissidents.
He said the troops uncovered decomposing remains of kidnapped and murdered victims dumped in a deep well by members of the irredentist groups during the clearance operations.
The army spokesman further stated that while conducting the operations, the unrelenting troops encountered and cleared four ambush sites along roads Orsumoghu-Mbosi – Ihiala-Uli, dislodging the irredentists from their criminal havens.
He said the gallant troops neutralized one of the criminals, arrested three suspects and recovered one pump-action shotgun, two live cartridges, two mobile phones, one black coloured Toyota Hilux vehicle, a polythene bag containing substances suspected to be Cannabis and the sum of N1, 920.
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According to the Army Spokesman in a separate operation conducted Thursday, troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army in collaboration with the Nigerian Police have burst an IPOB/ESN syndicate that disrupted the just concluded Local Government Council elections at some polling stations in Nkanu West of Enugu State.
Nwachukwu said during the intelligence-driven operation, carried out around Centenary Estate Obeagu Uno, troops uncovered 7 AK 47 rifles, 2 pump action rifles, 10 rifle magazines, 8 live cartridges, 74 live rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one hand grenade, a tipper truck containing 3 corpses among other items.
He said the items have been handed over to Enugu State Police Command for further action.
He reassured residents of South-East Nigeria of our commitment to restoring lasting peace in the region.
