A notorious commander of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), identified as Tochukwu, alias Joto and two other of his comrades have been killed by security forces in Imo State.
A statement by the Nigerian Army on its official X handle said troops in conjunction with personnel from Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, successfully conducted special clearance operation across the general areas of Udda, Ihiteukwa, and Orsumoghu, along the borders of Orsu and Ihiala local government areas of Imo and Anambra States, respectively.
Troops during the operation encountered members of the IPOB and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) who have been using the area as a sanctuary.
On sighting the troops, the statement said, insurgents employed guerrilla tactics, lobbing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from concealed positions and riddling the roads with booby traps.
“Despite the terrorists’ guerrilla tactics, troops maintained their resolve and countered the attacks with tactical precision, employing superior firepower to neutralise notorious IPOB/ESN Ihiteukwa terrorist camp Commander known as Tochukwu, alias Ojoto and two others,” it said.
The troops recovered firearms, communication devices, narcotics, and personal effects of the terrorists during the encounter.
They also captured two undetonated IEDs, six detonated IEDs and bomb-making materials.
The statement added that the recovered IEDs and bomb-making materials were safely destroyed.
“The operation has dealt a significant blow to the terrorists’ networks in the region,” the Army said.
In another operation in Cross River State, troops engaged in a fierce gun battle with a group of suspected kidnappers in a remote community of Akparanbong in Ikom local government area of the state.
Following the gun battle, kidnappers retreated hastily leaving behind two AK 47 Rifles, six Magazines, variety of ammunition and three mobile phones.