Troops kill IPOB commander, four others in Imo

Troops of the Joint Task Force Operation ‘UDO KA’, have killed four members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), including a commander of the group’s armed Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Imo.

Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, the military task force’s spokesman, said in a statement on Tuesday in Enugu that the troops conducted a special clearance operation on Monday based on reliable intelligence in the Udda, Ihittukwa, and Orsumoghu communities in the Orsu LGA.

According to him, the troops dominated and captured the notorious stronghold of the IPOB/ESN at Mother Valley despite an attempt by the criminal elements to detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to stop the advancing troops.

“The gallant joint troops with superior firepower forced the criminals to withdraw in disarray; in the encounter, four of the irredentists were neutralised, and others escaped with gunshot wounds.

• Troops destroy IPOB camp, IED factory in Imo

“One of the IPOB/ESN commanders, Tochukwu, Aka Ojoto, in charge of Ihietukwa Command, despite many charms on his body, was neutralised,” he said.

The spokesman listed items recovered from the hideouts to include an AK-47 rifle with two magazines, two automatic pump action guns, three handheld Baofeng radios, one laptop, and a Techno phone.

Others are car keys, substances suspected to be marijuana, Biafran currencies, five IEDs and device-making materials, as well as batteries for detonation of the IEDs and assorted charms.

He said the force commander, Hassan Dada, assured all citizens that the joint task force was committed to ensuring peace and stability in the South-East.