Soldiers deployed for “Operation Udo Ka” have arrested suspected kingpins of the Indigenous People of Biafra and their Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) in Imo State and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition.
A statement by the Nigerian Army on its official social media handle said troops also tracked and arrested a suspected terrorist in Kwara State and recovered an AK 47 rifle.
According to the statement, troops in collaboration with other security forces conducted successful raids on multiple hideouts of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), leading to the arrest of key terrorists’ kingpins and the seizure of a significant cache of weapons and ammunition.
The statement said troops targeted notorious kingpins in one of the raids in Orlu local government area (LGA), namely Izuchukwu Emejuru, aka “Kingkong,” and Chibuzor Chikwe, alias “Onyema”.
Troops during the raid arrested the suspects and confiscated a variety of weapons, including a semi-automatic pump-action gun, a locally made gun, and a pistol.
Troops also recovered valuable items belonging to Eze Ogberuru, whose palace was earlier desecrated and burnt, with his belongings carted away by ESN elements.
In another operation, troops raided the hideout of a suspected IPOB/ESN kingpin identified as Chinemerem, aka “Bam Bam,” in Ezeinyen Okwe Umucheke, Onuimo LGA.
The statement said troops during the operation killed Chinemerem, as he attempted to reach for his weapon and the arrest of several of his accomplices.
The troops recovered a substantial amount of weapons, ammunition, and IPOB/ESN paraphernalia and destroyed the hideout.
Furthermore, troops intercepted suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists at a hideout in Amausa, Okigwe LGA.
The troops, in the ensuing shootout, overpowered the separatists, who fled in disarray, abandoning a cache of ammunition and motorcycles.
The troops recovered 72 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm (NATO) ammunition, four rounds of 7.62 mm (Special), three rounds of 5.56mm, one FN Rifle, a pair of military desert boots and one green beret.
In a related development, troops successfully tracked and arrested a suspected terrorist, identified as Ibrahim Abdullahi, in Edu LGA of Kwara State and recovered an AK-47 rifle, magazines, and ammunition.
