Nigerian Security Forces Take Down IPOB/ESN Fighters in Coordinated Raids
In an executed joint operation, the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police have successfully neutralized three combatants affiliated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The operation unfolded in the early hours of Monday, September 18, 2023, within the dense confines of the Igboro Forest, strategically located between the Arochukwu and Ohafia Local Government Areas of Abia state.
The operation marks a significant breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to curb the activities of these separatist groups in the region. It culminated in a fierce firefight that saw the elimination of three IPOB/ESN fighters, effectively dismantling their presence in the area.
This successful operation is the result of weeks of meticulous surveillance, uncovering the Igboro Forest’s utilization as a clandestine combat training facility for IPOB/ESN insurgents. Furthermore, the forest served as a base for the planning and execution of attacks on civilians, security personnel, and government infrastructure within Abia state.
Upon securing victory in the confrontation, the Nigerian troops moved swiftly to dismantle multiple hidden camps utilized by the insurgents for their nefarious activities. The comprehensive sweep of these camps yielded a trove of weapons and ammunition, including an improvised 16 Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) Gun mounted on a vehicle, an improvised 12 MBRL Gun, an improvised 6 MBRL Gun, an AK-47 Rifle, a Dane Gun, six locally made Rocket Launchers, four Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), five Fragmental Jackets, a Baofeng Radio, Military Camouflage Uniforms, and an assortment of charms.
In parallel, on the same day, the 82 Division Nigerian Army, in close collaboration with the Nigerian Police Force, acted on credible intelligence and conducted a raid on an IPOB/ESN hideout situated at Ezioha Mgbowo in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu state. This operation thwarted the armed insurgents’ plans to enforce an illegal sit-at-home order. As the troops closed in on the hideout, a fierce firefight ensued, with the insurgents eventually being overpowered by the superior firepower of the security forces. In this confrontation, three of the insurgents were neutralized, while the remaining assailants fled the scene. The troops also recovered three Pump Action Guns and ten Machetes from the fleeing insurgents.
Security authorities have called upon the public to remain vigilant and continue supporting the Nigerian Army and other security agencies by providing credible information. This cooperation is seen as crucial in the ongoing fight against terrorism, insurgency, and various criminal activities that continue to threaten the region’s stability and security.