CITIZENS COMPASS —No fewer than 50 camps of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). have been destroyed with some shallow graves uncovered during an operation carried out by the Military on Sunday, March 10, 2024, across Imo State.
This was disclosed by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, in a statement.
“The location was also littered with shallow graves indicative of idol worshipping and ritual killings. The ritual killings at the camp account for the several cases of missing persons in the region,” He He said the troops killed 20 of the IPOB fighters in the operation conducted on March 7 in the Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State.
He said the operation was jointly carried out by personnel of the Armed Forces, Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
He said, “On March 5, personnel of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy killed five IPOB fighters in a gun battle that occurred at Ejemekuru in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
Also, on March 2, troops killed an IPOB fighter after a fierce gun duel and recovered three Improvised Explosive Devices, one Toyota Highlander SUV, one Hilux vehicle, and eight rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, among others from their hideouts.
“On March 7, 2024, the combined troops of Operation Udo Ka with Nigeria Police, Department of State Security Service, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps conducted a raid/clearance operation to the IPOB/ESN violent extremists/terrorists in Mother Valley, Orsu LGA of Imo State.
“The team cleared about 50 IPOB/ESN hideout tents in the valley including terrorists’ Supreme Headquarters and their Command and Control Centre as well as its Military Council Headquarters.
“Troops also cleared Buteuzor’s hideout/residence office, logistic base, temple, and shrine.
“The valley had sufficient power supply for the camps. The terrorists hibernated there, reared animals, and also owned farms to be self-sustaining to live and fight. During the operations, troops also encountered several command IEDs and ditches along the axis of the camp.
“All were detonated and ditches were covered with excavators before reaching the camp. The location is identified to be the supreme headquarters, command, and control centre as well as the Military Council Headquarters of IPOB/ESN.
“During the operations, troops made contact with terrorists. Following a firefight, troops neutralised 20 terrorists and recovered several quantities of assorted weapons such as G3 rifles, AK-47 rifles, auto pump-action guns, double-barrel guns, locally-made pistols, and RPG bombs.
“Troops also recovered assorted ammunition which included 226 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 216 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 172 live cartridges, four AK-47 magazines, and three G3 magazines.
“Other items recovered include several quantities of IEDs, POS devices, baofeng radios, mobile phones, handheld IEDs, CCTV cameras, inverters, and batteries. Additional items include Biafra flags, amongst others.
“Troops destroyed all camps, hideouts, and shrines in the location. The location was also littered with shallow graves indicative of idol worshipping and ritual killings. The ritual killings at the camp account for the several cases of missing persons in the region.
“The recovered items are being processed and analysed for their intelligence value. Nevertheless, troops are sustaining the momentum and going in pursuit of the terrorists and their cohorts, dislodging them from their enclaves.”
