Troops raid alleged IPOB, ESN enclave in Anambra, kills one

According to the Nigerian Army, a group of soldiers, sailors, police officers, and vigilantes attacked the camps of people who were purportedly part of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant branch of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and their camp.

According to the report, on Monday, while acting on reliable information, members of the Nigerian Navy, police officers, and local vigilantes joined forces with troops from Exercise Golden Dawn III to attack camps in the Orsumoghu general area of Anambra State.

The Army said in a statement released on Tuesday that the forces demolished and cleared the purported IPOB/ESN camps during the operation.

“One of the terrorists was naturalized while others escaped with gunshot wounds and one pump action rifle was recovered,” the statement reads.

The Army further stated that on Saturday, troops on patrol along Orsumoghu-Ukpor Road in the Ihiala Local Government Area of the state came in contact with the “irredentists”.

The statement noted that “due to superior firepower, the criminals were forced to abandon their location. Items recovered include 27 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammunition, three locally made hand grenades, two handheld radios, one pair of police uniform and fragmental jacket and charms”.

The Exercise Golden Dawn III of the Nigerian Army was recently flagged off in the Southeast region “to complement the security architecture of the region during and after the Yuletide period”.

The General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Hassan Taiwo Dada, enjoined members of the public to support the Nigerian Army and other security agencies with credible information through the Emergency Telephone Line 193 to enhance the fight against terrorism and other criminal activities in the region.

General Dada also encouraged citizens to go about their normal daily activities and businesses without fear of intimidation.