In a concerted effort, combined troops from the 82 Division Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force, in collaboration with the Nigerian Police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, successfully cleared multiple camps of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), along Umulolo – Umukele – Amousu and Agbobu in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State.
The troops executed a strategic operation, overcoming challenges posed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) en route, to storm and dismantle the hideouts of the terrorist groups. In the process, several buildings utilized by the groups were cordoned off and thoroughly searched, revealing signs of terrorist activities, occult practices, and acts of cannibalism by the group. The troops also successfully destroyed the IED manufacturing facility of the terrorists.
Among the recovered items were rank badges belonging to two kidnapped policemen from the Enugu-Port Harcourt road incident. Additional discoveries included Biafran currencies, counterfeit US Dollar bills, Biafran Liberation Army T-shirts, and other insignia. Military kit bags, cables used for IED detonation, axes, and the arrest of two suspects were also notable outcomes. Additionally, burnt corpses of policemen were discovered, and arrangements were made for their proper burial.
In a separate incident within Owerri Metropolis, troops on night patrol foiled a kidnapping attempt by suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists. A gun duel ensued, resulting in the criminals abandoning their victim. Troops recovered an AK-47 rifle with a magazine, a G-3 rifle with mounted magazines, and the vehicle used by the terrorists.
In a bid to enhance civil-military relations and foster a peaceful society, Major General Hassan Taiwo Dada, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division Nigerian Army, visited the Isiuzo – Amufu community in Enugu State on January 24, 2024. During the address at the village square, the GOC advised the community to collaborate with and support the military in ending insecurity within the region, assuring his commitment to resolving herders and farmers clashes and youth restiveness.
Major General Dada also met with other security agencies in the Local Government Area, encouraging them not to relent in their collaborative efforts and information sharing with the military for improved security. The GOC expressed gratitude for the remarkable cooperation of other security agencies and called on the people of the South East region to provide timely, reliable, and credible information through the Emergency Line 193 (press 2). The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property within the South East region in accordance with its constitutional duties and the rule of law.
