No fewer than 20 suspected Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) supporters have been killed by a combined team of the Nigerian military, the Police and other security agencies.
In recent weeks, the Nigerian Military, the Police, the Civil Defense and the Department of State Security Service have intensified efforts in ending the criminal activities of suspected IPOB/ESN members around the Orsu and Orlu corridor of Imo state.
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The Director of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba on Sunday said the operation that led to the death of about 20 members of the separatist group was done on Thursday the 7th of March.
He said the Joint Task Force (JTF) successfully located and destroyed the headquarters of the separatist group.
He said: “During the operations, troops also encountered several command IEDs and ditches along the axis to the camp.
“All were detonated, and ditches covered with excavator before reaching the camp.
“The location is identified to be the supreme headquarters, command and control centre as well as the Military Council Headquarters of IPOB/ESN.
“Following a fire fight, troops neutralised 20 terrorists and recovered several quantities of assorted weapons such as G3 rifles, AK47 rifles, auto pump action guns, double barrel guns, locally made pistols and RPG bombs.
“The ritual killings at the camp account for the several cases of missing persons in the region.
“The recovered items are being processed and analysed for their intelligence value.
“Nevertheless, troops are sustaining the momentum and going in pursuit of the terrorist and their cohorts, dislodging them from their enclaves.”