OWERRI (Sundiata Post) – During clearance operations in suspected Igbo and its Eastern Security Network hideouts in two council areas of Imo State, Nigerian Army troops discovered a “Ogbunigwe” rocket propeller made locally.
According to a statement released on Friday by Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, acting deputy director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, on behalf of the Joint Task Force, the activities were carried out by members of the Joint Task Force South-East Operation, also known as “Operation UDO KA II.”
On Thursday, October 5, 2023, Ihioma-Ihittenansa communities in Orsu Local Government Area and Okigwe-Umulolo communities in Okigwe Local Government Area, respectively, had clearance operations take place simultaneously, according to Unuakhalu.
He claimed that the IPOB/ESN agitators, who were fleeing, were responsible for killing and maiming innocent South-East residents as well as extorting money from them in the name of agitation. He explained that the operations were intended to locate and destroy any potential camps of these agitators.
He adds that an improvised explosive device struck one of the troops’ vehicles during the raid at Umulolo.
No causality was detected, he added.
“Troops also came in contact with the terrorists who fled into nearby bushes with gunshot wounds due to superior firepower,” the statement read in part.Two suspects were arrested and items recovered at Umulolo included two locally-made guns, ammunition, one PKT machine gun barrel, one big locally-made rocket propelled launcher (Ogbunigwe), and IED-making materials.
“Other items included eight cell phones, three boots, a pair of camouflage shorts, two motorcycles, a beret, two laptops, and a charger. Three shrines that the terrorists had utilised as fortification were also destroyed.”
According to the army spokesman, while conducting clearance operations and fighting patrols along Ihioma-Ihittenansa in Orsu LGA, the forces also came into contact with IEDs, came quite close to some IPOB/ESN terrorists, and engaged them in fire battles at Eketutu Market.
The terrorists, who had bullet wounds, fled on motorcycles into the neighbouring Mother and Lilu Valley forests. “Troops successfully cleared the terrorists from the Eketutu market,” he added, adding that troops also found some IED-making supplies and two CCTV cameras that had been meticulously hidden at the highest point in the region.
According to the army spokesman, Operation UDO KA II will continue to fight against cannibalism, extortion, kidnapping for ransom, and ritual executions of law-abiding and diligent individuals in the South-East.