Troops of 82 Division, Nigerian Army has conducted operations to clear hideouts where members of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) operated in Imo and Anambra.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu in Enugu on Thursday.
Nwachukwu said the clearance operation was carried out on Feb. 23 at the IPOB/ESN criminal havens at Azia, Orsumoghu, Lilu forest, Mbosi and Uli in Ihiala within Anambra and Orsu Local Government Area of Imo respectively.
“During the clearance operations, troops overpowered and routed the dissidents, who staged an ambush against the gallant troops.
“The troops then proceeded to clear Lilu Forest, where they were met with resistance from the outlawed group.
“The criminals were again overrun by the troops who effectively cleared Lilu forest and the adjoining areas earlier occupied by the dissidents.
“During the clearance operations, the troops uncovered decomposing remains of kidnapped and murdered victims dumped in a deep well by members of the dissident groups,” he said.
The army spokesman noted that while conducting the operations, the unrelenting troops encountered and cleared four ambush sites along roads enrouting Orsumoghu-Mbosi-Ihiala-Uli, dislodging the irredentists from their criminal havens.
He said the gallant troops neutralised one of the criminals, arrested three suspects and recovered one pump action shot-gun.
Other items recovered included: two live cartridges, two mobile phones, one black coloured Toyota Hilux vehicle, a polythene bag containing substances suspected to be cannabis and the sum of N1,920 among others. (NAN)