Troops belonging to the 34 Artillery Brigade, a part of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, successfully thwarted an attack launched by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on their Forward Operating Base in Ukwuorji. The base, situated along the Owerri-Onitsha expressway in Imo State, came under attack on August 20. The vigilant troops, armed with superior firepower, promptly neutralized the irredentist group’s offensive.
According to an official statement released on Tuesday by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the army’s spokesperson, the clash resulted in the elimination of one gunman, while two others were apprehended. The remaining attackers fled the scene. Among the items recovered were a vehicle, a mobile phone, a machete, nine expended 7.62 mm special ammunition casings, and one expended 12.7mm ammunition casing.
In another significant development, a member of the Boko Haram group, along with his wife, voluntarily surrendered to the 26 Task Force Brigade Garrison troops operating in the Gwoza area of Borno. This surrender came as a direct result of the relentless efforts of the troops in their ongoing combat operations against insurgents in the North-East. The surrendered terrorist handed over an AK-47 Rifle and 10 live rounds of 7.62 mm Special Ammunition.
On the same note, troops from the 1 Brigade Garrison, operating under the 8 Division in the North-West, executed a successful ambush against insurgents in Bobo village, located in the Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara. Acting upon actionable intelligence, the troops were able to intercept the insurgents who were on a mission to attack the village. Two terrorists were neutralized during the encounter, and the troops recovered two AK-47 rifles and four motorcycles from the scene.
In a call for support, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu emphasized the importance of citizens’ cooperation with the Nigerian Army’s operations to bolster security across the nation.