Troops of the 63 Bde Garrison under the auspices of 6 Division, Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services(DSS), have in an ongoing Clearance Operation, destroyed an enclave of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed unit, Eastern Security Network (ESN) at Asaba, Delta State on Saturday.
The troops conducted a raid operation on the fortified enclave located in the middle of a forested High ground in the early hours of the day.
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu,
Director Army Public Relations, disclosed this morning.
Nwachukwu stated that the gallant troops overpowered the IPOB fighters in the exchange of fire that followed the encounter, compelling them to abandon their hideout in disarray. The troops captured one of the fleeing fighters and recovered five AK 47 Rifles, three Pump Action Semi Automatic Rifles, one G3 Rifle and one single barrel gun.
Other items recovered, include Live Cartridges, Electric Saw, Machetes, an Axe and IPOB flag.
However, hours later, the troops captured a wounded fighter(gunman) and recovered several additional items from the criminals. Some of the items recovered are four Motorcycles, four Double Barrel guns, five AK 47 Magazines, 18 rounds of Live 7.62mm Special ammunition, 6 Mobile phones, two Power banks, six Boafeng Communication Radios and Chargers, an Android phone, one HP Laptop, 13 IPOB flags, one Power generating set, one Gas Cylinder, IPOB Uniforms and accoutrements as well as five improvised Beagles. Other items are two ATM cards and a Wrist Watch.
The troops have destroyed the enclave and are exploiting the forest in pursuit of the fleeing fighters.
The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja has commended the troops and other security agencies for their effort in the ongoing operations and has charged them to sustain the momentum to restore sanity in the region.
