In a significant breakthrough against insurgency in the South-East region, Nigerian troops from Operation Udoka have apprehended a founding leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and three key commanders of the Eastern Security Network (ESN). The operations were carried out across multiple states, including Anambra, Abia, and Enugu.
The Defence Headquarters revealed that during the raids, a total of 24 terrorists were neutralized, 12 extremists were arrested, and one kidnapped victim was successfully rescued.
Addressing the media in Abuja on Thursday, Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, detailed the successful missions. He disclosed that troops from the Forward Operation Base in Orsu conducted a sting operation, leading to the capture of an IPOB leader, identified as Pius Iguh, a founding figure of the ESN in the Orsu area of Imo State.
In a separate raid, troops from FOB Amaruku apprehended another ESN commander, Emmanuel Onwugu, in Mbano Local Government Area of Abia State. Additionally, a notorious cult leader named Ifeanyi Rock and ten of his associates were arrested in Arochukwu, Abia State.
Buba further explained that the military’s intensified operations neutralized 24 terrorists and led to the arrest of 12 extremists, while a kidnapped hostage was rescued. Significant recoveries were made during the operations, including 10 AK-47 rifles, 15 pump-action guns, ammunition, two vehicles, and multiple mobile phones. All suspects and confiscated items have been handed over to the appropriate authorities.
Between October 15 and 18, 2024, further confrontations with IPOB/ESN terrorists occurred in Imo and Cross River states, yielding similar results in neutralizations and arrests.
Highlighting the broader counter-terrorism efforts across Nigeria, Major General Buba noted that in the past week, troops neutralized 140 terrorists, arrested 135 suspects, including 18 involved in oil theft, and rescued 76 kidnapped victims. The military also thwarted oil theft operations worth over N1.7 billion in the Niger Delta, destroying illegal refining sites and recovering large quantities of stolen oil.
In the North-East, under Operation Hadin Kai, 43 terrorists were killed, and 27 suspects were apprehended. Similar successes were reported in the North-Central and North-West regions, with multiple arrests and arms recoveries.
Major General Buba stressed the importance of the military’s ongoing counter-terrorism efforts, noting that they have significantly weakened terrorist capabilities. He urged Nigerians to cooperate with the military to ensure the country remains inhospitable to terrorism.
