Troops of the Nigerian army have killed a suspected member of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Onyema Nwachukwu, the army spokesperson in a statement on Sunday, said the suspect was killed during a clearance operation by the troops at Ihiteukwa, a community in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State, South-east Nigeria.
Mr Nwachukwu, a major general, said the troops also cleared an IPOB/ESN hideout in the area during the operation which was conducted on Saturday.
The army spokesperson said the troops overpowered the hoodlums after an “intense firefight” between them. Three improvised explosive devices, a Toyota Highlander SUV, a Hilux vehicle, eight rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, six rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and one locally fabricated single barrel gun were among the items recovered from the hideout, according to the army.
Others were a pair of ‘Biafra uniform’, one solar panel, one CCTV camera, 10 mobile phones, batteries, a bundle of Biafra currency, three solar street lights, three jungle hats, pairs of black boots and charms.
Mr Nwachukwu said, in a separate operation, the troops engaged other suspected IPOB members in a shootout at their crossing point in Akawa Nneato in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
The army spokesperson said the IPOB members “scampered in disarray” into nearby bushes during the shootout.
He did not mention when the troops conducted the operation.
One AK-47 rifle loaded with 19 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, two empty magazines and one FN FAL rifle loaded with four rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered from the hoodlums, the army said.
Credit: premiumtimesng.com
