Military raids IPOB/ESN camps in Ebonyi, Enugu, recover arms

Military raids IPOB/ESN camps in Ebonyi, Enugu, recover arms

Troops of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police and Department of State Services on Exercise GOLDEN DAWN II on Monday 19 December 2022 jointly raided an Independent People of Biafra / Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) Camp located at Amagu village Nkalaha community, Ishielu LGA of Ebonyi State.

In a statement made by the Director of Army Public Relations Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, the troops during the raid engaged the IPOB/ESN members in a gun duel leading to the killing of scores while others fled.

The troops recovered 102 rounds of 7.62mm special, two Pump Action guns, and five locally made rifles, one roll of detonator 27, quantity 24 detonators, 33 electrical cables, quantity 12 of type 36 Hand Grenades and 12 bags of substances suspected to be Marijuana.

Other items recovered include, three Motorcycles, two Generators, one Water pumping machine, military woodland camouflage and a Nigeria Police uniform.

In a related development, troops on routine patrol in Agubeji community in Enugu State on the same day arrested a suspect, Mr Martins Abogwu, for conniving with IPOB/ESN elements to unleash attacks on innocent citizens.

He said the suspect, who claimed to be the Chief Security Officer of the community is assisting in the preliminary investigations that followed and has led troops to their camp, where a shallow grave containing two decomposing bodies was uncovered.

“One of the corpses has been identified as a member of the local vigilante, who was kidnapped about a month ago”, he said.

The Nigerian Army, therefore, reassured law-abiding citizens of its unwavering resolve, in synergy with other services and security agencies to deny criminal elements the freedom of action and progressively rid the nation of identified threats to national security by executing its constitutional responsibilities in conformity with extant rules of engagement.

He also encouraged members of the public to work harmoniously with the security agencies to collectively make the South East and the entire nation secure and peaceful.