JUST IN: Nigerian Army Confirms Two Soldiers Killed in ESN Attack, One Missing

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of two soldiers and the loss of weapons following an attack by operatives of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). One soldier is reported missing in the aftermath of the incident, which took place in Osina, Ideator North Local Government Area of Imo State.

According to an official statement released on Saturday, the attack occurred as troops from the 34 Artillery Brigade were returning from routine patrols. They responded to a distress call reporting an assault on the Osina community by suspected IPOB/ESN members. The military said its troops engaged the attackers with overwhelming firepower, resulting in casualties among the assailants. However, the statement did not specify the number of ESN operatives killed.

“Unfortunately, two security agents were killed in action, and one is missing. Their weapons, including an AK-47 rifle and a tear gas launcher, were carted away by the terrorists,” the statement revealed. The bodies of the deceased soldiers have been recovered, and efforts to track the missing soldier and the perpetrators are ongoing.

Subsequent military operations led to further confrontations. At Nkwachi Community, troops reportedly neutralized one of the attackers and recovered an AK-47 rifle with a fully loaded magazine. Pursuit operations continued into Umalouma Forest, where additional firefights occurred. The military reported recovering six AK-47 rifles, one Fabrique Nationale rifle, and several magazines. The ESN operatives, described as sustaining severe gunshot injuries, fled into the forest.

The army has vowed to maintain its operations until all attackers are apprehended or neutralized, urging IPOB/ESN members to surrender. It also called on Imo State residents to provide timely intelligence to assist in combating criminal activities.

Imo State has faced escalating violence since 2021, following a controversial Supreme Court ruling that declared Senator Hope Uzodinma governor despite his fourth-place finish in the 2019 elections. Critics argue the state has become a flashpoint of unrest, with military operations reportedly leading to widespread destruction in the guise of counterinsurgency efforts.