On Monday, Nigerian Army troops killed two suspected members of the Indigenous Outlaw People of Biafra (IPOB) during a shootout in Imo State, southeastern Nigeria.
The incident occurred along the Orsu-Orlu highway in the state.
Army spokesman Onyema Nwachukwu revealed as much in a statement on Tuesday.
He said troops intercepted members of IPOB and its militant wing, ESN, while they were on a routine patrol in the area.
“Upon sighting the patrol team, the criminal elements opened fire and launched a grenade attack on the troops.
“The vigilante troops responded with superior firepower, neutralizing two of the criminal elements and forcing others to flee in disorder,” Nwachukwu said.
He said troops arrested four of the fleeing gunmen after a “hot pursuit” during the operation.
An AK 47 rifle, two magazines, a police grenade launcher, two Baofeng radio communication equipment, were among the items recovered during the operation, according to the Army spokesman.
Others are: five mobile phones, an IPOB beret, two motorcycles, four SIM cards, five wallets with different identity documents, an aphrodisiac, amulets and the sum of N16,460.
“Preliminary investigation of the suspects’ mobile phones reveals gory images and videos showing scenes of cold-blooded murders, corpses displayed in shrines, and other heinous atrocities committed by the criminals,” Nwachukwu said.
Like other southeastern states, attacks by gunmen have recently increased in Imo state. Attacks often target security agencies and government facilities.
The Nigerian government has accused IPOB of being responsible for the attacks in the region. But the separatist group has repeatedly denied involvement in the attacks.
IPOB is leading the agitation for the formation of an independent state of Biafra from south-east and some parts of south-south Nigeria.
The leader of the separatist group, Nnamdi Kanu, is currently detained in Abuja, where he is facing trial for alleged treason.
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Read the full statement:
TROOPS NEUTRALIZE TWO IPOB/ESN IN WEAPON BATTLE, RECOVER WEAPONS IN IMO STATUS*
Troops from the 34th Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army (NA) neutralized two gunmen and arrested four other members of the illegals. Biafran Indians(IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) in a fierce gunfight along Orlu – Orsu Road on April 25, 2022.
The troops, while carrying out a routine patrol, made contact with elements of IPOB/ESN in the surroundings of the general area of the Aluminum Company and the Church of All Saints. Upon sighting the patrol team, the criminal elements opened fire and threw grenades at the troop. The vigilante troops responded with superior firepower neutralizing two of the criminal elements, forcing others to flee in disorder. In an intense manhunt that followed the encounter, troops arrested four of the fleeing gunmen and recovered an AK 47 rifle, two magazines, a police grenade launcher, two Baofeng communication radios, five mobile phones, an IPOB beret, two motorcycles, four SIM cards. , five wallets that contained different identity documents, aphrodisiacs, amulets and the sum of Sixteen Thousand Four Hundred and Sixty Nairas only.
Preliminary investigation on the suspects’ mobile phones reveals gory images and videos depicting scenes of cold-blooded murders, corpses displayed in shrines, and other heinous atrocities committed by the criminals.
ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Brigadier General
Director of Army Public Relations
26 April 2022