The suspected IPOB members. Photo: Nigerian Army
‘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’
By Valentine Amanze
The Nigerian Army has arrested five fleeing suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), and recovered one IPOB flag, one CCTV camera and two detonated IED bombs and a fabricated mortar tube.
It also disclosed that five soldiers and two Nigeria Police operatives sustained varying degrees of injuries from the IED detonated by the criminals during the raid of their hideouts in Anambra and Imo states on Monday July 31, 2023.
Also read: Anambra police boss pursuing ethnic agenda, killing members – IPOB
The Nigerian Army, in a statement issued by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General, Onyema Nwachukwu, on August 1, 2023, disclosed that the raid was part of the ongoing operations to end the enforcement of the illegal sit-at-home order declared by the Finland-based factional leader of IPOB, Simon Ekpa.
It further explained that the troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army, sister services, Nigeria Police and other security agencies successfully carried out the attack at the hideouts and training camps belonging to IPOB/ESN in Orsomoghu forest spanning Anambra and Imo states.
It said that the troops were alerted to the 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.
“During the raid, 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 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 has therefore appealed to citizens of the South East Nigeria to continue to support the ongoing operations with information and to disregard the two-week sit-at-home order by going about their daily activities and businesses.
