The Nigerian Army has said that the troops of 34 Artillery Brigade have killed two gunmen and arrested four members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Imo State.

The army said the gunmen were killed by the troops in a gun battle along Orlu-Orsu Road on Monday.

The Nigerian Army made the disclosure via a statement issued by its spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, on Tuesday.

Nwachukwu stated: “Troops of 34 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army (NA) have neutralized two gun men and arrested four other members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) in a fierce gun battle along Orlu – Orsu Road on April 25, 2022.

“The troops, while on routine patrol made contact with elements of IPOB/ESN around the general area of Aluminium Company and All Saints Church.

“On sighting the patrol team, the criminal elements opened fire and launched grenade attack on the troops.

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“The vigilant troops responded with superior firepower neutralizing two of the criminal elements, compelling others to flee in disarray.

“In a hot pursuit that followed the encounter, troops arrested four of the fleeing gunmen and recovered one AK 47 rifle, two magazines, one Police grenade launcher, two Baofeng communication radios, five mobile phones, one IPOB Beret, two motorcycles, four SIM cards, five wallets containing different ID cards, afrodisiac, charms and the sum of Sixteen Thousand Four Hundred and Sixty Naira only.”

He added that preliminary investigation on the suspects’ mobile phones revealed “gory pictures and videos depicting scenes of cold blooded murders, corpses displayed in shrines and other heinous atrocities committed by the criminals.”

The Star