Troops of the armed forces have made significant progress in their crackdown operations on members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and their Eastern Security Network (ESN) counterparts.
A sting operation conducted by troops at FOB Orsu in the South eastern part of the country reportedly led to the arrest of a suspected terrorist leader who is a founding member of the ESN.
Briefing journalists on Thursday during the biweekly press conference on the activities of troops across various theaters of war at the New Conference Room of the Defence Headquarters, the Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba identified the name of the arrested terrorists leader of the ESN as Pius Iguh.
“Troops continue to deepen operational successes across the various theatres of operation. For instance in the South East theater, troops at FOB Orsu conducted a sting operation that culminated in the arrest of an IPOB terrorist leader. The arrested terrorist leader, identified as Pius Iguh, is a founding father of ESN group in the Orsu general area of Imo State”, General Buba stated.
The Media Director further stated that one Emmanuel Onwugu, who is a known IPOB terrorist commander was also arrested in a raid conducted by troops at FOB Amaruku at Mbano LGA of Abia State.
“Relatedly, troops and security forces in a combined sting operation arrested a notorious cult leader named Ifeanyi Rock. He was arrested with 10 of his combatants in Arochukwu in Abia State,” Buba added.
While giving an overview of the operations of troops across the country, General Buba mentioned that troops killed 140 terrorists and arrested another 135.
“Meanwhile, during the week under review, troops neutralized 140 and arrested 135 persons. Troops also arrested 18 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 76 kidnapped hostages. In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of One Billion Seven Hundred and Fifty One Million Eight Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand Five Hundred and Fifty Naira (N1,751,886,550.00) only.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 241 assorted weapons and 3,254 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: 141 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, 2 FN rifles, 17 fabricated rifles, 26 dane guns, 13 pump action guns, 4 locally made pistols, one beretta pistol, 2 bayonets and 42 AK47 magazines.
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“Others are: 2,016 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 970 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 33 rounds 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 76 rounds of 9mm ammo, 113 live cartridges, 2 baofeng radios, 3 vehicles, 31 motorcycles, 18 mobile phones and the sum of N79,052,150.00 and 19$ only amongst other items.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 33 crude oil cooking ovens, 19 dugout pits, 41 boats, 70 drums, 22 storage tanks and 47 illegal refining sites .Other items recovered include 13 speedboats, one tricycle, 4 motorcycles, 3 vehicles among others. Troops recovered 1,122,710 liters of stolen crude oil and 557,210 liters of illegally refined AGO,” Buba said.
While encouraging citizens not to support terrorist combatants, he assured that the military will defeat the terrorists on the battlefield and in their hiding places to ensure that the country flourishes again.
