From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Nigerian Army has said that its troops, working alongside sister services and other security agencies, has killed an Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) expert of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Orsu – Ihitte Ukwa, Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State.
The troops comprising the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Nigerian Police, Department of States Services and the Nigerian Securities and Civil Defence Corps, who were on a clearance operation around Udaah, Identa Ihitte Ukwa and Awo Idemili in Orsu LGA of Imo State, made contact with the dissidents, who opened fire, lobbed hand held IEDs and launched locally made rockets (Ogbunigwe) at the advancing troops. While the troops advanced, the terrorists who fled in disarray detonated several IEDs. One of the dissidents was neutralised while connecting the explosive to its power source.
Items recovered include locally made rocket launchers, defused IEDs, pipes, wires and other materials used in the production of explosives and locally made rocket launchers. The troops also covered several ditches used as obstacles on the roads linking the communities by the ESN elements,” it was gathered.