Troops raid IPOB, ESN Enugu camps, smash C’River gun-running syndicate

Troops of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, and other security agencies have successfully raided hideouts of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), at Imufu in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.

This is contained in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, on Friday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said the troops operating under the auspices of Operation UDO KA II, in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies, subdued the group with superior firepower, neutralising two fighters.

He said the troops also recovered three semi-automatic pump-action rifles and a locally fabricated single-barrel gun during the encounter.

He added that the troops, in conjunction with DSS, apprehended a notorious ESN commander, Ezege, in a separate sting operation at Obinagu in Udi Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the arrested ESN commander recently threatened to unleash mayhem in Enugu State via a viral video and audio message circulated on social media.

He said the suspect is currently in custody for further investigations.

Nwachukwu said troops of 130 Battalion, operating in the 13 Brigade’s area of responsibility under 82 Division, in collaboration with DSS operatives, also smashed a notorious syndicate of gun runners at Obudu in Cross River.

The operation followed credible intelligence revealing the illicit activities of the gun runners in Obudu and Biaju.

He said the leader of the gun-running syndicate was nabbed in the sting operation along with his accomplices, comprising two Nigerians and two Cameroonians.

Nwachukwu said preliminary investigations had revealed that the accomplices purchased firearms, which they in turn sold to a middleman who supplies arms and ammunition to Ambazonian separatists in the Republic of Cameroon.

He added that a subsequent operation conducted on Thursday led to the arrest of the gun-running kingpin, Raphael, aka Biajua, a Cameroonian from Biajua, a community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Four semi-automatic pump-action rifles and four mobile phones were recovered from the group.

“The Nigerian Army enjoins the general public to remain vigilant and report any untoward activity to the security agencies in support of ongoing operations to curb security challenges.

“The good and enterprising people of South-East Nigeria are also encouraged to discountenance the illegal sit-at-home order and go about their daily activities and businesses without fear of intimidation, as ongoing operations will be sustained to counter the enforcement of the unlawful order,” he said.