In a bid to deter the enforcement of the illegal sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), combined troops of the 82 Division Nigerian Army, sister Services, Nigeria Police, and other security agencies conducted a successful raid on hideouts and training camps belonging to IPOB/ESN in the Orsomoghu Forest spanning Anambra and Imo States.
The operation, which was completed on July 31, 2023, was in reaction to complaints of violent behavior by the irredentist organization in the Anambra State communities of Onitsha, Nnewi, and Iheme Obosi as well as New Market, where they were forcibly imposing an illegal two-week sit-at-home order.
The IPOB camps at Ekeututu, Orsomoghu, Lilu, and Mother Valley were the targets of the raid, according to Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations. In the course of the mission, the troops came across armed members of the gang who resorted to employing mortar tubes made locally and IEDs, also known as “Ogbunigwe,” to explode. The courageous warriors overpowered the irredentist gang in spite of opposition, compelling them to renounce their positions and run into surrounding bushes while still suffering gunshot wounds.
Following the raid, the forces apprehended five of the group’s evacuees and seized an IPOB flag, a CCTV camera, two detonated IED explosives, and a fake mortar tube. But the explosion of the IED injured five troops and two Nigeria Police officers to varied degrees.
The Nigerian Army appeals to all law-abiding residents of the South East to continue assisting ongoing operations by disobeying the illegitimate sit-at-home order and giving actionable intelligence. The Army, working with sister services and other security agencies, is unwavering in its commitment to defend the lives and property of the honorable and resourceful people of South East Nigeria while abiding by the law and rules of engagement.
The security forces’ efforts to uphold peace and order in the area and to combat illegal activities that endanger the security and wellbeing of the public include raiding IPOB/ESN hideouts and training camps. The coordinated effort shows the security organizations’ will to uphold the law and prevent groups from acting in a way that would undermine national peace and unity.
