In a retaliatory move, troops of Operation UDO KA have conducted a successful raid on the camp of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Igboro Forest, Arochukwu Local Government of Abia State.
The operation, aimed at apprehending the perpetrators of the recent attack on soldiers in Aba, resulted in the neutralization of six ESN members.
According to a statement by the Nigerian Army on its X handle on Sunday, the operation encountered Improvised Explosive Devices along its axis of advance, leading to one soldier sustaining minor injuries.
However, the group’s resistance was subdued with superior firepower, resulting in the neutralization of six members of the group, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
The army disclosed that the raid yielded significant recoveries, including locally fabricated Rocket Propelled Grenade launchers, artillery guns, dane guns, Biafran flags, and burnt vehicles.
Additionally, all of the ESN’s camps with various inscriptions were destroyed during the operation.
Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA urged the people of Abia to continue cooperating with security agencies by providing credible information to eradicate criminal elements in the state and the entire South East region.
The retaliation comes after six soldiers were killed in an attack by IPOB/ESN at Obikabia Junction Checkpoint in Obingwa Local Government Area, adjoining Aba metropolis. The attackers, arriving in three-tinted Toyota Prado SUVs, engaged troops deployed to maintain peace in the area, resulting in the loss of civilian lives as well.
In response, the Military vowed to retaliate fiercely, emphasizing the importance of public support in defeating terrorist groups. The statement highlighted the military’s determination to bring overwhelming pressure on the perpetrators to ensure their total defeat.
The attack by IPOB/ESN armed men occurred amid the enforcement of a sit-at-home order across the South-East, further escalating tensions in the region.