Scores of members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have been neutralised by troops of Nigerian Army attached to the 82 Division.
Members of the separatist group were killed in a gun duel at Amagu village Nkalaha community, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Operatives of Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police and Department of State Services shelled their location while on the Exercise GOLDEN DAWN II operation on Monday.
Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu explained in Abuja on Wednesday that some members of the group disturbing the peace of South East fled with gunshot injuries during the joint operation.
He said, “During the raid operations, the troops came in contact with members of the dissident group, resulting in exchange of fire. In the encounter, the gallant troops neutralised some of the irredentists, while others took to their heels abandoning the camp.”
Nwachukwu added that the troops recovered 102 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2 pump-action guns, 5 locally-made rifles, 1 roll of detonator 27, 33 electrical cables, 36 hand grenades and 12 bags of substances suspected to be Marijuana.
According to the address, other items recovered include: 3 motorcycles, 2 generators, 1 water pumping machine, military woodland camouflage and the Nigeria Police uniform.
He further explained that in a separate operation on the same date, troops on routine patrol in Agubeji community in Enugu State arrested a suspect, one Martins Abogwu, for conniving with IPOB/ESN elements to unleash attacks on innocent citizens.
According to him, the suspect, who claimed he was the chief security officer of the community was assisting in the preliminary investigations and had led troops to their camp, where a shallow grave containing two decomposing cadaver were recovered.
“One of the corpses has been identified as a member of the local vigilante, who was kidnapped about a month ago.
“The Nigerian Army reassures law-abiding citizens of its unwavering resolve, in synergy with other services and security agencies to deny criminal elements the freedom of action and progressively rid the nation of identified threats to national security by executing its constitutional responsibilities in conformity with extant rules of engagement.
“The Nigerian Army also encourages members of the public to work harmoniously with the security agencies to collectively make the South East and the entire nation secured and peaceful,” he added.