See the Number Killed as Troops Clash with IPOB/ESN, Seize Deadly Weapons in Anambra
On Wednesday, troops from Sector 5 of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA reported the killing of eight members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), during a confrontation in Anambra State.
The operation, aimed at clearing the IPOB/ESN Ogunka Camp in Orumba South Local Government Area, also led to the arrest of five suspected members of the group. They were apprehended while traveling in a black Ford Edge with Abuja registration number ABC 535 AB on Aguluzenechikwu Road in Aguata Local Government Area.
The troops, who were conducting a clearance operation, encountered the armed group upon reaching the camp. During the firefight, the insurgents tried to flee but were intercepted by a blocking force, resulting in the neutralization of five individuals. Weapons recovered included two AK-47 rifles, a pump-action gun, four Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and a 12V/75 Amp battery used for detonating the IEDs, according to Joint Task Force spokesperson Lieutenant Jonah Unuakhalu.
Additionally, the five arrested suspects, while attempting to gain access to a Forward Operating Base (FOB) checkpoint, attempted to open the barricades but were stopped by the alert troops. A search of their vehicle yielded a locally made pistol, three live cartridges, and nine mobile phones.
Earlier, on January 8, 2025, while on a routine patrol along Orsumoghu-Burrow Pit Road in Anambra, the troops encountered armed insurgents, neutralizing three of them. During a subsequent search, two IED cylinders were discovered, one of which exploded during detonation, resulting in the loss of a soldier’s life.
Furthermore, in response to reports of kidnappings along the Igbo Eze Local Government Area of Enugu State and the boundary with Kogi State, combined forces of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, and other agencies swiftly pursued the kidnappers. The operation led to the release of all kidnapped victims, with the last two freed just yesterday. Efforts to locate the kidnappers’ hideout are ongoing.
The troops have also intensified efforts against illegal oil bunkering. In Sector 4, troops discovered a site in Egbema West, Imo State, where they seized and destroyed 15 cooking drums, five reservoirs containing approximately 5,000 liters of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), 1,500 liters of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and a 2km-long hose.
Major General Hassan Dada, the Force Commander of Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA, urged citizens to continue supporting the operation by providing reliable and credible information to help maintain peace in the South East region.
