Troops of Sector 5 of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA on Wednesday allegedly killed eight members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), during a crossfire in Anambra State.
It also arrested five suspected group members at Aguluzenechikwu Road, Aguata Local Government Area while driving a black Ford Edge with registration number Abuja ABC 535 AB.
The gallant troops who were on clearance operation to identify IPOB/ESN Ogunka Camp in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State said they came in contact with the irredentists on arrival at the camp.
“During the firefight, the irredentists attempted to flee through their escape route but were engaged by the blocking force neutralising five of the irredentists. Items recovered included Two AK 47 Rifle, One Pump action gun, Four Improvised Explosive Devices(IEDs), and 12V/75 Amp Battery used for detonating the IEDs,” a spokesperson for the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Jonah Unuakhalu, stated.
Unuakhalu disclosed that the five arrested suspects, on reaching the Forward Operating Base (FOB) checkpoint decided to open the barricades to gain access to the base.
He added that the vigilant troops were able to stop them and on further search of the vehicle, one locally made pistol, three live cartridges, and nine mobile phones were recovered.
He stated that earlier on 8 January 2025, while troops were on routine patrol along Orsumoghu – Burrow Pit road in Anambra State, they came in contact with the irredentists, neutralising three.
“On further scan of the area, two IED cylinders about to be buried by the roadside by the irredentists were discovered. In the process of detonating the IED it exploded and one soldier paid the supreme price,” he said.
Unuakhalu said troops of Sector 1 responded to a distress call of kidnapping activities of passengers travelling along the Igbo Eze Local Government Area of Enugu State and the boundary between Enugu and Kogi States.
“The combined troops comprising the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force and other security agencies moved swiftly into action and went in pursuit of the kidnappers through their escaping route forcing them to release all the kidnapped passengers in batches with the last two of their victims released yesterday,” he said.
“Efforts are still ongoing to discover the kidnapper’s den.”
He said that Operation UDO KA has intensified the fight against illegal oil bunkering, with troops of Sector 4 deployed at Egbema West in Imo State conducting an anti-illegal bunkering operation.
“During the operation, troops discovered an illegal oil bunkering site with Fifteen cooking drums, Five reservoirs containing approximately 5,000 litres of illegal refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), 1,500 liters of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and a hose of approximately 2km long which were destroyed immediately,” he said.
Unuakhalu said that the Force Commander Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA Major General Hassan Dada has called on all well-meaning citizens to continue supporting the Joint Task Force by providing timely, reliable, and credible information to make the South East region peaceful.
