Troops of 34 Artillery Brigade Nigerian Army (NA) have neutralized a member of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate Eastern Security Network(ESN) at Ihioma Community in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State.
Police said the troops on routine patrol encountered members of the group who fired sporadically at Banana Junction to enforce the illegal sit-at-home order on citizens going about their legitimate businesses. The police said the IPOB/ESN members on sighting the troops withdrew in a blue Toyota Highlander towards Ihioma Community for reinforcement.
In the firefight that ensued during the operation, one of IPOB/ESN member was taken out, while others fled in disarray. Troops are combing the general area in a follow up operations to track down the fleeing members of the group.
Confirming the incident, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the director of Army Public Relations, said that having suffered a casualty and effectively denied freedom of action by the troops, the”irredentist group resorted to cheap propaganda to whip up public sentiments by circulating a doctored video on the social media alleging troops’ complicity in their mindless atrocities. Onyema said this propaganda should be disregarded in its entirety.”