Troops Nab IPOB Commander, Gunrunners In Cross River, Raid Camps In Enugu

The Nigerian Army has said troops of 82 Division under the auspices of Operation UDO KA II in conjunction with the police, DSS and other security agencies raided hideouts of the Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) killing some of the and arrested its commanders who threatened to unleash mayhem in Enugu.

The troops also arrested a leader of Ambazonian separatists, a gunrunner and four accomplices comprising two Nigerians and two Cameroonians during a sting operation in Cross River State.

The director, army public relations, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement said the troops on Thursday conducted a raid on their hideouts at Imufu in Igbo-Eze North local government area of Enugu State.

He said during the operation, troops encountered fighters, but subdued them with superior firepower, killing two fighters and recovered three semi-automatic rifles and a locally fabricated single barrel gun.

In similar vein, troops in conjunction with DSS same day, arrested a notorious ESN commander, Mr Ezege, in a separate sting operation at Obinagu in Udi local government area of Enugu State.

He said; “The arrested ESN commander recently threatened to unleash mayhem in Enugu State via his viral video and audio message circulated on some social media platforms.”

He added that the ESN Commander is currently in custody of the military for further investigations.

General Nwachukwu said troops of 130 Battalion operating in the 13 Brigade area of responsibility under 82 Division Nigerian Army, in collaboration with DSS on Wednesday August 9 burst a notorious syndicate of gunrunners at Obudu motorcycle park in Obudu local government area of Cross River State.

He said the operation followed credible intelligence revealing the illicit activities of the gunrunners in Obudu and Biaju general areas.

“In the sting operation, the leader of the gun running syndicate was nabbed alongside his accomplices, including two Nigerians and two Cameroonians,” he said.

He added that during preliminary investigations, it was revealed that the accomplices purchased firearms which they in turn sell to a middle man who supplies them to Ambazonian separatists in Cameroon.

Nwachukwu said a subsequent operation on Thursday led to the arrest of a gunrunning kingpin, Raphael aka Biajua, a Cameroonian, at Biajua community in Boki, Cross River State.