Troops of the Nigerian Army in conjunction with other security agencies have neutralised an Improvised Explosive Devices, IED, expert allegedly working for the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its security wing, the Eastern Security Network, ESN, in Orsu, Ihitteukwa, Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State.
The operation, according to a Facebook post by the Nigerian Army Headquarters, was carried out on Thursday.
According to the post, troops comprising the Nigerian army, Navy, Air Force, Nigerian Police, Department of States Services, DSS and other security agencies were on a clearance operation around Udaah, Identa Ihitteukwa and Awo Idemili in Orsu Local Government Area of the state when they clashed with the assailants.
The post stated that the criminal elements opened fire, lobbed hand held IEDs and launched locally made rockets (Ogbunigwe) at the advancing troops during the operation.
“While the troops advanced, several IEDs were detonated by the terrorists who fled in disarray. One of the dissidents was neutralised, while connecting the explosive to its power source.
“Items recovered include locally made rocket launchers, defused IEDs, pipes, wires and other materials used in the production of explosives and locally made rocket launchers. The troops also covered several ditches used as obstacles on the roads linking the communities by the ESN elements.
“The Nigerian Army will continue to conduct its operations to deter the irredentist from freedom of action,” the statement added.