Nigerian troops on a special operation in the South-East region have raided some identified camps of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network, (ESN), killing many at Lilu Forest, in Ihiala local government area of Anambra State.
Lilu, a border town between Imo and Anambra States, is known to be the operational base of the IPOB/ESN.
According to an issued statement, the Nigerian Army’s Director, Public Relations, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the troops conducted early hours operations on January 17, 2022, and neutralised some gunmen in their hideout after a gun battle.
He said that after dislodging the dissidents from their fortress, troops recovered 10 pump-action shotguns, two locally fabricated guns, one revolver pistol, several rounds of 7.62mm special, live cartridges, machetes’ as well as IPOB flags.
Other items recovered include mobile phones, laptops, amongst other dangerous weapons.
He said the operation was jointly conducted by troops of 82 Division, Nigerian Navy, ‘211 Quick Response Group’ of the Nigerian Air Force, Department of State Services, (DSS) and the Police.
“It was a well-coordinated dawn attack on the fortress, where plans were being perfected to violently enforce the illegitimate ‘sit-at-home’ directive by the irredentist groups”, he said.
