Troops clear 4 IPOB/ESN camps, recover fresh, old corpses in Imo

Troops of the Joint Task Force, South-East, code-named Operation UDO KA II, have cleared four notorious camps of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliates, Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Imo State.

The troops, in the course of the clearance, neutralised two IPOB/ESN members, and four of the criminals were arrested.

This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Enugu by Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, for the Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA II.

He said that the clearance and recovery were carried out on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023.

The army spokesman said that during the clearance operation, troops encountered many improvised explosive devices (IEDs) deployed en route to the camps.

According to him, however, due to superior firepower, the irredentist group members fled into neighbouring forests with gunshot wounds.

“It was discovered that the camps were being used to perpetuate atrocities such as cannibalism, occultic practises, and ritual killings to instill fears in law-abiding citizens.

“These were evident from the many fresh and old corpses discovered while clearing the entire camp.

“Also, the houses of the two spiritual leaders and herbalists that took to their heels were destroyed.

“Furthermore, the shrine of the wanted terrorist, Amobi Chinoso Okafor, alias Temple, where human sacrifices are being made, was destroyed,” he said.

Unuakhalu said that the items recovered from the camps included different denominations of Biafra currencies, one new power bike, four motorcycles, and solar panels.

Other items recovered are POP cement and a petroleum tanker suspected to have been hijacked by hard-working Igbo owners (indigenes) trying to make a living.

“Operation UDO KA II will continue combating crime and criminality in accordance with the existing rules and regulations guiding its operations.

“All law-abiding and good citizens of the South-East are enjoined to act against these devilish terrorists by providing timely, credible, and reliable information, which will lead to ending the menace of insecurity occasioned by the activities of the terrorist group in the region.

“Do not be a victim of this sacrilegious These criminals are desecrating Igboland,” he said.