The troops of the Joint Task Force, South-East, code-named Operation UDO KA II, have cleared four notorious camps of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliates, Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Imo State.
The troops, in the clearance carried out on Sunday, October 1, 2023, neutralised two IPOB members and arrested no fewer than four others.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday, October 2, by the acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu.
Unuakhalu stated that the camps cleared were located in three communities – Ihube, Aku, and Umulolo – in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State.
The army spokesman said during the clearance operation, troops encountered many Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) deployed enroute to the camps, adding that due to superior firepower, the IPOB members fled into neighbouring forests with gunshot wounds.
He stated: “It was discovered that the camps were being used to perpetuate atrocities such as cannibalism, occultic practices, and ritual killings to instill fears into law-abiding citizens.
“These were evident from many fresh and old corpses discovered while clearing the entire camps.
“Also, the houses of the two spiritual leaders and herbalists that took to their heels were destroyed.
“Furthermore, the shrine of the wanted terrorist, Amobi Chinoso Okafor, alias Temple, where human sacrifices are being made was destroyed.
“The Joint Task Force neutralized two IPOB/ESN members and four of the criminals were arrested.”
Unuakhalu listed the items recovered from the camps to include different denomination of the Biafra currencies, one new power bike, four motorcycles, and solar panels.
Other items recovered included POP cements and a petroleum tanker suspected to have been hijacked from hard working Igbo owners (indigenes) trying to make a living.
The army spokesperson added: “Operation UDO KA II will continue combating crime and criminality in accordance with the extant rules and regulations guiding its operations.
“All law-abiding and good citizens of the South-East are enjoined to act against these devilish terrorists by providing timely, credible and reliable information which will lead to ending the menace of insecurity occasioned by activities of the terrorist group in the region.”
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