The Nigerian Army, in collaboration with personnel from the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, has successfully carried out a special clearance operation in the general areas of Udda, Ihiteukwa, and Orsumoghu, situated along the borders of Orsu and Ihiala LGAs of Imo and Anambra states.
In a statement released by the Army, it was reported that the troops encountered members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN), who had been using the area as a sanctuary.
Upon sighting the troops, the insurgents resorted to guerrilla tactics, launching improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from concealed positions and setting up booby traps along the roads.
“Despite the terrorists’ guerrilla tactics, troops maintained their resolve and countered the attacks with tactical precision, employing superior firepower to neutralize notorious IPOB/ESN Ihiteukwa terrorist camp Commander known as Tochukwu, alias Ojoto, and two others,” the statement said.
The operation resulted in the recovery of firearms, communication devices, narcotics, and personal effects of the terrorists. Items recovered included two undetonated IEDs, six detonated IEDs, and bomb-making materials. The Army noted that the IEDs and bomb-making materials were safely destroyed, dealing a significant blow to the terrorists’ networks in the region.
In another operation in Cross River State, troops deployed for counter-terrorism operations engaged in a fierce gun battle with a group of suspected kidnappers in the remote community of Akparanbong in Ikom Local Government Area.
The encounter occurred during a routine patrol, leading to a gun battle that forced the kidnappers to retreat hastily, leaving behind two AK-47 rifles, six magazines, a variety of ammunition, and three mobile phones.
