The Nigerian Army says its operatives have dislodged a ‘notorious stronghold of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) and Easter Security Network (ESN), camped in a forest in Anambra state.
A statement signed by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the military in conjunction with sister agencies on Monday, January 17, 2022 raided the hideout located at Lilu Forest in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.
Nwachukwu said they recovered 10 Pump Action Shotguns, two locally fabricated guns, One Revolver pistol, rounds of 7.62 mm special, live cartridges, machetes, IPOB flags, mobile phones, laptops amongst other dangerous weapons, from the group who were allegedly planning to enforce the Monday sit at home order.
The statement read;
TROOPS DISLODGE IPOB/ESN STRONGHOLD AT LILU FOREST IN ANAMBRA STATE
Troops of the Nigerian Army(NA) in a joint operations conducted with other security agencies have dislodged a notorious stronghold of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) at Lilu Forest in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. Lilu is a border town between Imo and Anambra States, which was hitherto known to be used as an operational base of the dissidents.
The operations, which was conducted in the early hours of Monday 17 January 2022, led to the neutralization of some gunmen in a fire fight that ensued.
After dislodging the dissidents from their fortress, the dogged troops recovered 10 Pump Action Shotguns, two locally fabricated guns, One Revolver pistol, rounds of 7.62 mm special, live cartridges, machetes and IPOB flags. Other items recovered are mobile phones, laptops amongst other dangerous weapons.
The operation was jointly conducted by troops of 82 Division, Nigerian Navy, 211 Quick Response Group of the Nigerian Air Force, Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police. It was a well coordinated dawn attack on the fortress, where plans were been perfected to violently enforce the illegitimate sit-at-home declaration by the irredentist groups.
