Troops Raid IPOB Camps, Arrest 2, Recover Firearms In Southeast

Troops from Joint Task Force South-East, also known as “Operation UDO KA,” have arrested two suspected terrorists while conducting clearance operations in the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) camps.

This is contained in a statement issued by the spokesman of the task force, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, on Sunday in Enugu.

Unuakhalu said that in continuation of its clearance operations, troops on Dec. 5, 2024, cleared IPOB/ESN Camp at Uhuala-Aku in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo.

“The combined force acting on credible intelligence on arrival at the terrorist’s camp came in contact with the irredentists who were forced to abandon their camp in disarray, escaping into the adjoining forest due to troops’ superior firepower.

“Items recovered included: one G3 rifle, two pump action rifles, three Dane guns, one locally fabricated pistol, one MG belt, two AK 47 rifle magazines, 12 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, and five rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.

“Other items are a sack containing a human skull, one Toyota Hilux vehicle, six radio chargers, 20 car keys, and one Boafeng radio.

“Troops also destroyed 26 makeshift accommodations in the camp,” he said.

Unuakhalu also said that the troops of Sector 2 arrested two suspects terrorising the general area of the Okposi community of Ebonyi and recovered two locally fabricated pistols, nine live cartridges, and one motorcycle.

The spokesman said that in another operation, troops of Sector 1 in conjunction with the Department of State Service raided the IPOB/ESN camp at Agu Orba Ekwegbe Community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.

“During the raid operations, troops recovered the following locally fabricated items: two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), one single barrel gun, 12 rifles under construction, two single revolver pistols, 10 pistols under construction, and two pistol magazines.

“Others included: 335 rounds of 7.62mm by 51mm live ammunition, 12 rounds of pump action rifle live cartridges, and 11 empty cartridges.

“The combined team also recovered 21 military desert boots, eight pairs of military raincoats, three IPOB/ESN flags, a first aid box, six cutlasses, two knives, as well as bags of rice and garri. The camp was subsequently destroyed.”

Unuakhalu said that the Force Commander of the task force, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, had called on all well-meaning citizens to embrace dialogue as a tool of maintaining peace and stability in the South-East.