Military Raids IPOB Enclaves, Arrests Killers of Five Soldiers in Abia

Troops have apprehended the killers of five soldiers during a raid on hideouts of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Abia State.

Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, announced the arrests during a press briefing on Thursday. The troops’ actions followed the attack on May 30, where gunmen enforcing IPOB’s sit-at-home order for Biafra Day killed five soldiers in Aba.

Buba stated that intelligence-based operations led to the discovery and destruction of several IPOB/ESN camps across the southeast, including a significant hideout in Igboro forest, Arochukwu. The arrested fighters are reportedly assisting the military in identifying other camps and individuals involved in the insurgency.

“We have sustained the momentum against the terrorists and their cohorts, which is crucial to military operations,” said Gen. Buba. “Our operations are based on mobilization and air strikes on terrorists, resulting in several battlefield achievements.”

In the past week, troops have achieved considerable success, killing 197 terrorists and arresting 310 criminals. Additionally, 22 oil thieves were apprehended, and 251 kidnap victims were rescued. The operations also led to the recovery of 180 assorted weapons and 5,123 rounds of ammunition.

Key seizures included:

• 2 PKT guns
• 73 AK-47 rifles
• 17 locally fabricated guns
• 3,207 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo
• 1,022 rounds of 7.62mm NATO
• 243 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo

In the Niger Delta, troops seized 728,360 liters of stolen crude oil, 143,450 liters of illegally refined diesel, 1,100 liters of kerosene, and 18,750 liters of petrol. They also discovered and destroyed 29 dugout pits, 22 boats, 26 storage tanks, 66 cooking ovens, 8 vehicles, and 43 illegal refining sites.