Troops Conduct Raids on IPOB/ESN Camps, Eliminate Two Commanders in Imo and Abia States
The Joint Task Force South-East, operating under the code name ‘Operation UDO KA’, alongside various security agencies, recently executed a series of raids on camps belonging to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Imo and Abia states.
During these operations, two IPOB/ESN commanders were neutralized, and a cache of arms and ammunition was recovered. The raids took place in several communities across the two states, targeting the separatist group’s strongholds.
This information was shared in a statement posted on Operation UDO KA’s social media platform on Monday. The statement highlighted that the raids are part of ongoing clearance operations aimed at disrupting the activities of IPOB and ESN in the South-East and nearby regions.
On July 20, 2024, the task force raided and dismantled IPOB/ESN camps in Ezioha-Eziama village, located in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. The operation involved personnel from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Police, Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
During the operation, the troops encountered and raided the hideout of the notorious IPOB/ESN Commander Lucio Agu, also known as B44, situated in the forested valley between the Umuaka, Ezioha, and Awomama communities. In the ensuing firefight, two commanders, Asari and Mazi, were neutralized, while others escaped with various gunshot wounds.
Recovered items from the raid included two AK-47 rifles with three magazines, 102 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, CCTV cameras, and assorted charms.
In a similar operation, troops from Sector 3 of Operation UDO KA destroyed an IPOB/ESN camp in Ezere Forest, which spans the Okigwe and Ummuneochi Local Government Areas of Imo and Abia states. The separatists fled into nearby bushes with gunshot wounds due to the superior firepower of the troops.
Items recovered from this raid included a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and assorted rounds of ammunition, four motorcycles, and four radios.
Operation UDO KA has called on the residents of the South-East to continue cooperating with security agencies by providing credible and timely information to help eliminate criminal activities in the region. They emphasized that any relevant information can be reported to Operation UDO KA by dialing *193* and selecting *Option 2*.
The Joint Task Force South-East, through Operation UDO KA, remains committed to its constitutional duty of safeguarding lives and property, adhering to global best practices as outlined in their rules of engagement.
