Troops have raided IPOB/ESN camps and arrested suspects involved in the killing of soldiers in Abia, as part of a renewed fight against insurgency.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) announced on Thursday that troops have arrested the suspected killers of five soldiers at a checkpoint in Aba, Abia State. This operation was part of a broader effort that also saw the killing of 197 terrorists and the arrest of 310 other suspected criminals across the country within a week.
Major-General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), provided these details during a bi-weekly briefing on ongoing military operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security forces across the six geo-political zones against insurgency activities.
According to Major-General Buba, “Following the killings of five personnel at the checkpoint in Abia, troops conducted several intelligence-based operations that led to the discovery and destruction of several IPOB/ESN terrorist camps across the region, such as at Igboro Forest in Arochukwu LGA of Abia State, among others.”
He further explained that several arrests were made during these raids, with those found culpable currently in detention. “There is intelligence value to the raids and arrests that were made. Those in detention are assisting troops to locate other camps, sleeper cells, and high-profile individuals involved in the activities of the terrorist group,” Buba added.
The DMO emphasized that the armed forces are committed to eliminating terrorists to ensure peace. “The terrorists exist for the sake of war, and therefore for the sake of peace they must be eliminated. Our war effort is designed to defeat and destroy the terrorists and dismantle their terror infrastructure across the country,” he stated.
Highlighting the importance of maintaining momentum in their operations, Major-General Buba said, “Our operations are focused on our war efforts, our mobilization, and air strikes to destroy the terrorists.”
This comprehensive approach aims to provide no respite for insurgent groups, ensuring continued pressure and disruption of their activities nationwide.