Shallow graves discovered, 50 IPOB camps demolished – Military
A recent clearance operation in Imo State resulted in the destruction of no less than fifty camps belonging to the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra, the military announced on Sunday.
Shallow graves discovered, 50 IPOB camps demolished – Military
Shallow graves that were likely the result of ritual killings and idol worship were also scattered around the area. Several incidents of missing persons in the area are related to the ritual killings at the camp, according to a statement released on Sunday by Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations.
He claims that during the raid on March 7 in the Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, 20 IPOB fighters were slain by the military.
Personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, and the Armed Forces all worked together to carry out the operation, according to Buba.
In the statement, Maj. Gen. Buba added that during the operations on March 7, security personnel demolished fifty IPOB sites in Imo.
He claimed that numerous improvised devices set up by the rebels and ditches running parallel to the camps came into touch with the army.
He claimed that the IPOB Supreme Headquarters, Command and Control Center, and Military Council Headquarters were among the camps that had been destroyed.
This is the third operation in the state and the second in the same local government since the beginning of the month.
Five IPOB fighters were killed on March 5 in a gunfight in Ejemekuru in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State by members of the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy.
In addition, on March 2, following a bloody gunfight, troops killed an IPOB fighter and found several other items from their hideouts, including three IEDs, a Toyota Highlander SUV, a Hilux car, and eight rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.
According to Buba, on Sunday, the IPOB militants’ hideouts were well-hidden with vegetation, making it impossible for aerial surveillance to spot them.
He stated, “On March 7, 2024, the IPOB/ESN violent extremists and terrorists were cleared out of Mother Valley, Orsu LGA, Imo State, by the combined forces of Operation Udo Ka with the Nigeria Police, Department of State Security Service, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The squad destroyed over fifty IPOB/ESN hiding tents in the valley, including the terrorist organization’s Military Council Headquarters, Command and Control Center, and Supreme Headquarters.
“Buteuzor’s hideout/residence office, logistic base, temple, and shrine were also cleared by the troops.”There was enough electricity in the valley to power the campgrounds. The terrorists kept livestock, kept farms, and hibernated there in order to support themselves while fighting. Troops also came across a number of command IEDs and trenches along the camp’s axis during the operations.
According to Buba, the IEDs exploded and the fighters’ trenches were covered.
He claimed that after making contact with the fighters, a fight broke out in which twenty of them were slain and multiple weapons were found on them.
Before approaching the camp, Buba stated, “all were detonated and ditches were covered with excavators.” The facility is recognized as the Military Council Headquarters of IPOB/ESN in addition to serving as the organization’s ultimate headquarters, command, and control center.
“Terrorists were contacted by forces throughout the operations. After a gunfight, the military killed 20 terrorists and seized a large number of different weapons, including RPG explosives, auto pump-action rifles, double-barrel guns, G3 rifles, and AK-47 rifles.
Additionally, 226 rounds of 7.62mm special munitions, 216 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 172 live cartridges, four AK-47 magazines, and three G3 magazines were among the various ammunition that the troops retrieved.
Numerous IEDs, POS systems, Baofeng radios, cell phones, handheld IEDs, CCTV cameras, inverters, and batteries are among the other items that were found. Flags representing Biafra are among the extra items.
Numerous IEDs, POS systems, Baofeng radios, cell phones, handheld IEDs, CCTV cameras, inverters, and batteries are among the other items that were found. Flags representing Biafra are among the extra items.
Buba further charged the IPOB militants of participating in ritualistic killings by claiming that shallow graves were dispersed across their encampment.
All of the nearby encampment, hiding places, and shrines were demolished by the troops. Shallow graves that were likely the result of ritual killings and idol worshipping were also scattered around the area. Numerous occurrences of missing persons in the area can be attributed to the ritual killings that take place at the camp.
The intelligence worth of the collected items is being analyzed and examined. The statement said, “Yet, troops are maintaining the pace and pursuing the terrorist and their allies, forcing them from their strongholds.
