Joint Task Force Kills IPOB/ESN Commanders in Imo, Abia Raids

The Joint Task Force Southeast, operating under the code name “Operation UDO KA,” has successfully neutralized two commanders of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in a series of coordinated raids in Imo and Abia states.

The raids, which involved the combined efforts of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, targeted several IPOB/ESN camps. According to a statement issued on Monday in Enugu via Operation UDO KA’s social media platform, these actions are part of ongoing clearance operations aimed at curbing the activities of the separatist group in the Southeast region and surrounding areas.

One of the significant operations took place in Ezioha-Eziama Village, located in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. Here, joint troops engaged in a fierce firefight with members of the group, resulting in the deaths of two high-ranking commanders known as Asari and Mazi. Several others fled with gunshot wounds. Recovered items included two AK-47 rifles, 102 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, CCTV cameras, and assorted charms.

In a related operation, troops from Sector 3 of Operation UDO KA dismantled another IPOB/ESN camp in Ezere Forest, situated between the Umuawa and Aku settlements, which span Okigwe and Ummuneochi Local Government Areas in Imo and Abia States. The group fled into the surrounding bushes under superior firepower, leaving behind a General Purpose Machine (GPM) gun, assorted ammunition, four motorcycles, and four radios.

Operation UDO KA has called on the residents of the Southeast to continue supporting security efforts by providing credible and timely information to aid in the elimination of criminal elements in the region. The task force urged citizens to report relevant information by dialing 193 and selecting Option 2.

The Joint Task Force Southeast reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property in accordance with global best practices and the rules of engagement guiding its operations.