The Nigerian Army says troops have killed a suspected member of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and arrested two others during a battle in a hideout belonging to the separatist group.
The army, in a statement posted on Facebook on Friday, said the operation was conducted on Thursday in collaboration with other security operatives in Mother Valley in Nkwere.
It said the operation was conducted by troops of Operation Udo Ka which comprises soldiers, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The army said the Mother Valley in Nkwere, where the operation took place, has been a long-standing enclave of IPOB fighters.
The Nigerian Army wrongly said Nkwerre is in Anambra State.
PREMIUM TIMES, however, can confirm that Nkwerre is the headquarters of Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo, another state in the South-east.
How the operations were conducted
The army said the troops advanced “relentlessly” for over three hours to the IPOB enclave through difficult and restricted terrain before penetrating and dominating the hideout despite fierce resistance from the separatists.
“During the intense engagement, the criminals employed locally made hand-held improvised explosive devices (IEDS) and heavy gunfire in a desperate attempt to halt the advance.
“Undeterred, troops decisively overwhelmed the hostile elements, neutralising one IPOB member while several others fled with gunshot wounds, effectively shattering their defensive positions and operational cohesion,” it said.
Two pump-action guns, one locally fabricated gun, one tear gas gun, seven gas cylinders, an electric kettle, and flags linked to the group were among the items recovered from the suspects, according to the Army.
“Troops also destroyed all life-support structures at the terrorists’ Supreme Headquarters in the valley, including solar panels and a Mikano generator, dealing a critical blow to their operational sustainability,” it added.
Arrest of two IPOB members
The army said, in a related operation, two suspected IPOB members were arrested by an ambush team.
The statement said one of the IPOB members was attempting to place an IED and the other identified as a spy was monitoring the troop’s movements.
“The suspects are currently in custody for profiling and further investigation, while troops continue aggressive clearance operations to deny the criminals any freedom of action,” it said.
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One KIA saloon car and a black Toyota Sequoia SUV were recovered from the group’s car park within the valley, the Army said.
“This decisive operation sends a clear and unmistakable warning to all criminal elements: there will be no hiding place, no sanctuary and no escape,” the army stated.
The statement said the Nigerian Army remains resolute, relentless and fully committed to dismantling all terrorist networks across the South-east and Nigerian.
“Law-abiding citizens are assured of sustained security presence and protection, while criminals should expect swift, overwhelming and lawful force wherever they attempt to threaten peace and stability,” it said.
IPOB, a group seeking to carve out a sovereign state of Biafra from south-east and some parts of the south-south of Nigeria, has been linked to some deadly attacks in two regions.
But the separatist group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.
