The Nigeria military says troops in a joint operation with the Nigeria Police, Department of State Security and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have successfully killed 20 IPOB/ESN terrorists during a clearing exercise in their camp at Mother Valley, Orsu LGA of Imo State.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major Gen Edward Buba and made available to Channel Network Afrique, CNA.
He said, the exercise, code-named operation “Udoka” also cleared about 50 IPOB/ESN hideout tents in the valley including terrorists Supreme Headquarters, their Command and Control Centre as well as its Military Council Headquarters.
According to him the troops also, cleared Buteuzor’s hideout, residence office, logistic base, temple and shrine.
“The hideouts was well concealed with foliage that affords the criminals cover from air surveillance in order to prevent monitoring and detection.
“The Valley had sufficient power supply for the camps. “The terrorists hibernating there, reared animals and also owned farms in order to be self sustaining to live and fight. “During the operations, troops also encountered several command IEDs and ditches along the axis to the camp. “All were detonated and ditches covered with excavator before reaching the camp.
“The location is identified to be the supreme headquarters, command and control centre as well as the Military Council Headquarters of IPOB/ESN.
“During the operations, troops made contact with terrorists and following a fire fight, troops neutralized 20 terrorists and recovered several quantities of assorted weapons.
“These included G3 rifles, AK47 rifles, auto pump action guns, double barrel guns, locally made pistols and RPG bombs.
“Troops also recovered assorted ammunition which include 226 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 216 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 172 live cartridges, 4 AK47 magazines and 3 G3 magazines”.
Others items recovered according to him, include: several quantities of IEDs (OGBUNIGWE), POS devices, baofeng radios, mobile phones, hand-held IEDs, CCTV cameras, Biafra flags, inverter and batteries amongst others.
“Troops destroyed all camps, hideouts and shrines in the location. The location was also littered with shallow graves indicative of Idol worshipping and ritual killings.
“The ritual killings at the camp accounts for the several cases of missing persons in the region,” he said.
He said the recovered items are being processed and analysed for their intelligence value.
Major Gen., Edward Buba further assured that troops are sustaining the momentum and going in pursuit of the terrorist and their cohorts, dislodging them from their enclaves.
