Operatives of the Nigerian Army and Navy engaged in a gun battle with fighters from the Indigenous People of Biafra, resulting in the death of five militants in Imo State.
The incident took place at Ejemekuru in Oguta Local Government Area, following a previous encounter between the troops and IPOB fighters in Orsu Local Government Area a few days earlier.
According to a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the joint operation led to the successful neutralization of the armed separatists.
The troops recovered a significant cache of weapons, including an AK-47 rifle, two pump-action semi-automatic rifles, a locally fabricated gun, two magazines, and three rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
The statement issued on Wednesday highlighted the troops’ effectiveness in overcoming the resistance of the armed fighters, emphasizing the recovery of two motorbikes, two mobile handsets, and a camouflage jungle hat during the operation.
Onyema stated, “In a successful raid operation conducted into identified IPOB/ESN camps on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, combined Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy troops have neutralized five armed fighters in a firefight that ensued at Ejemekuru in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.”
The military operation also revealed the recovery of 15 kidnap victims in a simultaneous counter-insurgency operation in the North West.
The troops rescued the victims in Tsohuwar Tasha area of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area in Zamfara State.
Responding swiftly to a distress call, the vigilant troops engaged the kidnappers in a shootout, compelling them to abandon their victims as they fled into the forest. All the abducted individuals were rescued unharmed.
