Troops raid 50 IPOB hideouts in Imo, kill 20

In Imo State’s Orsu Local Government Area, 20 Indigenous People of Biafra fighters were murdered by personnel from the Armed Forces, Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Also, during the joint operation on March 7, security personnel demolished 50 of their camps.

Among the camps destroyed were the IPOB’s Supreme Headquarters, Command and Control Center, and Military Council Headquarters.

The operation is the second carried out in the same Local Government since the beginning of the month, and the third in the state.

On March 5, personnel from the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy killed five IPOB members during a gun battle in Ejemekuru, Oguta Local Government Area, Imo.

On March 2, troops killed an IPOB fighter in a gunfight and collected three Improvised Explosive Devices, one Toyota Highlander SUV, one Hilux truck, and eight rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition from their hideouts.

However, in a statement issued on Sunday, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, stated that the forces came into contact with numerous Improvised Devices deployed by fighters as well as trenches along the axis of the camps.

Buba further stated that the fighters’ hideouts were effectively disguised with greenery, preventing them from being spotted during air surveillance.

The statement read, “On March 7, 2024, the combined troops of Operation Udo Ka with Nigeria Police, Department of State Security Service, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps conducted a raid/clearance operations to the IPOB/ESN violent extremists/terrorists in Mother Valley, Orsu LGA of Imo State.

“The team cleared about 50 IPOB/ESN hideout tents in the valley including terrorists’ Supreme Headquarters and their Command and Control Centre as well as its Military Council Headquarters.

“Troops also, cleared Buteuzor’s hideout/residence office, logistic base, temple, and shrine. The hideouts were well concealed with foliage that afforded the criminals cover from air surveillance to prevent monitoring and detection.

“The Valley had sufficient power supply for the camps. The terrorists hibernated there, reared animals, and also owned farms to be self-sustaining to live and fight. During the operations, troops also encountered several command IEDs and ditches along the axis of the camp.”

Buba stated that the ditches dug by the fighters were covered and the IEDs detonated.

He noted that in the fight that ensued after making contact with the fighters, 20 of them were killed and several weapons were recovered from them.

Buba said, “All were detonated and ditches were covered with excavators before reaching the camp. The location is identified to be the supreme headquarters, command, and control centre as well as the Military Council Headquarters of IPOB/ESN.

“During the operations, troops made contact with terrorists. Following a firefight, troops neutralised 20 terrorists and recovered several quantities of assorted weapons such as G3 rifles, AK47 rifles, auto pump action guns, double barrel guns, locally made pistols, and RPG bombs.

“Troops also recovered assorted ammunition which included 226 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 216 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 172 live cartridges, 4 AK47 magazines, and 3 G3 magazines. Other items recovered include several quantities of IEDs (OGBUNIGWE), POS devices, baofeng radios, mobile phones, handheld IEDs, CCTV cameras, inverters, and batteries. Additional items include Biafra flags amongst others.”

Buba also said shallow graves were spread across the IPOB fighters’ camps, accusing them of being involved in ritual killings.

“Troops destroyed all camps, hideouts, and shrines in the location. The location was also littered with shallow graves indicative of Idol worshipping and ritual killings. The ritual killings at the camp account for the several cases of missing persons in the region.

“The recovered items are being processed and analysed for their intelligence value. Nevertheless, troops are sustaining the momentum and going in pursuit of the terrorist and their cohorts, dislodging them from their enclaves,” the statement added.

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