Troops of the newly established 15 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have dismantled three suspected camps of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Anambra State, killing three suspected members and recovering firearms, explosives and other items.
The operation was conducted in the early hours of Saturday, August 15, following intelligence on the activities of suspected IPOB/ESN members around Osuakwa, along the boundary between Ihiala and Ogbaru Local Government Areas of the state.
The troops, operating under Joint Task Force South-East, Operation UDO KA, conducted the operation in collaboration with personnel of the Department of State Services and members of the Agunechemba Vigilante Group.
According to the Nigerian Army, the joint force came under hostile fire during the operation but responded decisively and overpowered the suspected criminals after a firefight.
The Army said three suspected IPOB/ESN members were killed, while three camps were overrun and destroyed.
Recovered items included one FN rifle with 10 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, one pump-action shotgun with five cartridges and 15 sticks of dynamite.
The troops also recovered four motorcycles, a gas cylinder, three hybrid batteries, two car batteries and three handheld radio chargers.
Further exploitation of the area led to the arrest of a suspected IPOB/ESN member identified as Chijioke, alongside a man and a woman suspected to be accomplices. The three were reportedly found in the company of six children.
The Commander of 15 Brigade commended the troops, DSS personnel and Agunechemba operatives for what he described as their courage, discipline and inter-agency cooperation.
He said the operation represented another major setback for criminal and terrorist elements seeking to undermine peace and security in the South-East.
The Nigerian Army said the newly established brigade would sustain intelligence-led operations in collaboration with other security agencies and local stakeholders to deny criminal elements freedom of action and protect residents across Anambra and the wider South-East.
The latest operation comes amid continuing security operations against suspected IPOB/ESN camps in the South-East, with previous military operations in Anambra also resulting in the recovery of firearms, ammunition and improvised explosive devices.
The Army urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible information while the investigation into those arrested continues.
