Troops foil IPOB, ESN attack, neutralise one, arrest two

The Nigerian Army said troops of 34 Artillery Brigade, operating in 82 Division’s area of responsibility, foiled an attack by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), on its Forward Operating Base at Ukwuorji, along the Owerri-Onitsha expressway.

Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, Director, Army Public Relations, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, said the irredentist fighters attempted the attack on the troops on August 20, 2023, but met their Waterloo when they came under the superior firepower of the vigilant troops.

According to him, the troops neutralised one of the fighters, while two others were arrested and others fled.

According to the statement, the troops recovered a vehicle, mobile phone, machete, nine empty cases of expended 7.62 mm special ammunition, and an empty case of expended 12.7mm ammunition.

In another development, following troops’ aggressive combat operations against insurgents in the Northeast, one Boko Haram fighter and his wife surrendered to troops of 26 Task Force Brigade Garrison in Gwoza.

The statement said an AK-47 rifle and 10 live rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition were among the items recovered from the Boko Haram fighter who surrendered to the troops.

The statement said further: “In a separate operation on August 21, 2023, troops of 1 Brigade Garrison, operating under 8 Division’s area of responsibility, while acting on actionable intelligence, ambushed insurgents who were on a mission to attack Bobo Village in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

“In a fierce fight with the insurgents, troops eliminated two of the criminals and recovered two AK-47 rifles and four motorcycles.”

The statement appealed to law-abiding citizens to support the Nigerian military’s operations to enhance security across the country.