Troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army under the auspices of Operation UDO KA II in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies Thursday conducted a raid operation into the hideouts of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), at Imufu in Igbo-Eze North, Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Director Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement issued Friday said, in the encounter, the troops neutralized two fighters and recovered three Semi Automatic Pump Action Rifles and a locally fabricated single barrel gun.
Similarly, he added that the troops in conjunction with DSS on the same day, arrested a notorious ESN Commander, Mr. Ezege in a separate sting operation at Obinagu in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Onyema added that the arrested ESN Commander, recently threatened to unleash mayhem in Enugu state via his viral video and audio message circulated on some social media platforms.
He said the culprit is currently in custody for further investigations.
Onyema added: “In another operational engagement, troops of 130 Battalion operating in 13 Brigade Area of Responsibility under 82 Division Nigerian Army, in collaboration with Department of State Services (DSS) have on Wednesday 9 August 2023 busted a notorious syndicate of Gunrunners at Obudu motorcycle park in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River state.
“The operation followed credible intelligence revealing the illicit activities of the Gunrunners in Obudu and Biaju general areas. In the sting operation, the leader of the gun running syndicate was nabbed alongside his accomplices, including two Nigerians and two Cameroonians.”
Onyema noted that during preliminary investigations, it was revealed that the accomplices purchased firearms, which they in turn sell to a middle man, who supplies the arms and ammunition to Ambazonian Separatists in the Republic of Cameroon.
He said a subsequent operation conducted on Thursday led to the arrest of the gunrunning kingpin, Raphael aka Biajua, a Cameroonian, at Biajua community in Boki LGA of Cross River State.
The troops also recovered 4 Semi Automatic Pump Action Rifles and four mobile phones.