On Tuesday, August 30, members of the Nigerian Army's Headquarters 82 Division, which is made up of members of the 34 Artillery Brigade, along with members of the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, and other security forces, neutralised two members of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militant wing Eastern Security Network (ESN).
They were exterminated on the route between Eke Ututu and Ihitte Nansa in Imo State's Orsu Local Government Area.
According to Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, spokesman for the army, the dissidents were encountered by the forces as they were conducting a raid operation at Orsu Ihitte Ukwa and Ihitte Nansa.
The neutralized members had taken position to launch one of their primed rocket launchers, when they were engaged and taken out by the vigilant troops.
General Nwachukwu said “the fearless troops were unhurt, as Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) deployed by the irredentists exploded at Eke Ututu Market, destroying some of the shops in the market”.
According to him, Eke Ututu market has recently become a flash point as dissidents often ambush troops using explosives and fire arms from within and around the market, while troops are on routine patrol.
After the incident, the Explosive Ordnance Device (EOD) team recovered several Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) planted along the road, as well as locally fabricated rocket launchers.
General Nwachukwu said the troops will continue to ensure there is no safe haven for all criminal elements operating around Orsu and Orsumoghu general area.