Troops of Headquarters 82 Division Nigerian Army, have neutralized two combatants of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militant wing Eastern Security Network (ESN) along Eke Ututu – Ihitte Nansa road in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State.
Onyema Nwachukwu, Director Army Public Relations in a statement on Wednesday, said the troops were made up of the 34 Artillery Brigade, in conjunction with troops of the Nigerian Navy, Air Force and other security agencies.
He said the troops encountered the dissidents while carrying out a raid operation around the general area of Orsu Ihitte Ukwa and Ihitte Nansa, adding that the neutralized members had taken positions to launch one of their primed rockets when they were engaged and taken out by the vigilant troops.
According to him, though the bomb planted by the irredentists went off, without any casualty, the improvised Explosive Devices (IED) deployed, exploded at Eke Ututu Market, destroying some of the shops in the market.
“After the incident, the Explosive Ordnance Device (EOD) team recovered several Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) planted along the road, as well as locally fabricated rocket launchers.” The statement said
He said troops would continue to ensure there is no safe haven for all criminal elements operating around Orsu and Orsumoghu general area.
