The Nigerian Army said its troops, in a joint operation with other security agencies have dismantled a stronghold of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), located in Lilu forest, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Weapons including guns, cutlasses were recovered while an undisclosed amount of IPOB members were said to have been neutralised.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, who stated that Lilu is a border town between Imo and Anambra State, added that the operation was conducted in the early hours of Monday, January 17, 2022.
The statement reads in part, “After dislodging the dissidents from their fortress, the dogged troops recovered 10 pump-action shotguns, 2 locally-fabricated guns, 1 revolver pistol, rounds of 7.62 mm special, live cartridges, and IPOB flags. Other items recovered are mobile phones, laptops, among other weapons.
“The operation was jointly conducted by troops of 82 Division, Nigerian Navy, 211 Quick Response Group of the Nigerian Air Force, Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police. It was a well-coordinated dawn attack on the fortress, where plans were being perfected to violently enforce the illegitimate sit-at-home declaration by the irredentist group.”