The Nigerian Army says combined troops of 82 Division, the Nigeria Police and security agencies have successfully raided hideouts and training camps belonging to IPOB/ESN in Orsomoghu forest, spanning Anambra and Imo States.
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director Army Public Relations, in a statement on Tuesday, said the troops were alerted about the violent activities of IPOB/ESN in Onitsha, Nnewi and Iheme Obosi in Anambra State, as well as New Market in Enugu State.
According to the statement, during the operations, the troops cleared IPOB camps in Ekeututu, Orsomoghu, Lilu and Mother Valley camps of the dissidents.
It said troops came in contact with the group’s armed fighters, who detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) also known as Ogbunigwe using locally fabricated mortar tubes.
“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 statement said.
He said the troops arrested five fleeing members of the group and recovered one IPOB flag, one CCTV camera and two detonated IED bombs and a fabricated mortar tube.
The statement added that five soldiers and two Nigeria Police operatives sustained varying degrees of injuries from the IED detonated by the criminals.
The statement encouraged all law-abiding citizens of the South-East to continue to support ongoing operations with actionable information and to disregard the unlawful two weeks sit-at-home order by going about their normal daily activities and businesses.