By CHARLES ONYEKWERE
Troops of 82 Division, Nigerian Army and Joint Task Force in the South-East code-named ‘Operation Udo Ka’ have destroyed camps of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its Eastern Security Network, ESN, armed wing.
The troops within days neutralised four IPOB/ESN armed men, rescued 14 people and checked crude oil bunkering within the South-East.
Acting Deputy Director, 82 Division, Lieutenant-Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu, in a statement yesterday in Enugu, said troops of 82 Division and Operation Udo Ka have continued to sustain offensive against IPOB/ESN criminals across the South-East.
He noted that in a series of well-executed operations, troops had successfully repelled and raided the irredentist hideout, as well as clamped down on the activities of illegal oil bunkers within its joint operation area.
According to him, in the early hours of Tuesday, October 22, troops of Sector 5 of Operation Udo Ka deployed at Forward Operational Base, FOB, Aguata, with other security agencies while on routine patrol within Igbo Ukwu and Uga axis of Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State came in contact with members of IPOB/ESN.
“During the fire fight, troops superior firepower forced the criminals to flee in disarray. During the encounter, one IPOB/ESN member was neutralised, two black Lexus Jeeps with no registration number and one pump action gun with three cartridges were recovered.
“On Monday, October 21, troops deployed at FOB Lilu also came in contact with the terrorist group after detonating the Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, planted along the supply route.
“Troops successfully neutralised two of the terrorists, recovered one pump action short gun, one solar CCTV camera, three large pipe-borne IEDs, seven IEDs and eight batteries,” he said.
Unuakhalu added that similarly, troops of the Joint Task Force on Wednesday, October 9, stormed an IPOB/ESN hideout in Enugwu Umuonyia community in Aguata.
He said overwhelmed in the ensuing firefight, the terrorists fled, leaving behind a cache of arms and logistics.
The spokesman noted that in the same vein, on October 10, troops of 82 Division carried out an ambush operation in Lilu community.
He said during the ambush, troops neutralised one IPOB/ESN member and recovered one handheld radio, four improvised grenade, one encased IED and one solar powered CCTV.
He noted that Operation Udo Ka had also conducted many rescue operations, adding that on Sunday, October 6, troops successfully rescued an expatriate and three staff of DATUM Construction Company.
