Troops from the 34 Artillery Brigade within the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army have successfully prevented an assault orchestrated by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and their armed counterpart, the Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN).
Gatekeepers News reports that the Director of Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu released a statement on Tuesday confirming these events.
The attack occurred at the Forward Operating Base in Ukwuorji, situated along the Owerri – Onitsha Expressway.
“The irredentist fighters attempted the attack on the troops on 20 August 2023 but met their Waterloo, when they came under the superior firepower of the vigilant troops. The troops neutralized one of the fighters, while 2 others were arrested, as others fled,” the statement added.
“Items recovered at the scene of the shootout, include one vehicle, one mobile phone, one machete, nine empty cases of expended 7.62 mm Special Ammunition, and one empty case of expended 12.7mm Ammunition.”
In the North-East region, there has been an additional achievement by the troops, as a Boko Haram fighter and his spouse have surrendered.
The pair turned themselves in to the troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade Garrison stationed in Gwoza. Upon their surrender, items which included an AK-47 rifle and 10 live rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition were seized.
“In a separate operation on 21 August 2023, troops of 1 Brigade Garrison, operating under 8 Division, Area of Responsibility, while acting on actionable Intelligence, ambushed insurgents who were on a mission to attack Bobo Village in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State. In a fierce fight with the insurgents, troops eliminated two of the criminals and recovered two AK-47 rifles and four motorcycles,” the statement added.
“The Nigerian Army enjoins all law-abiding citizens to support its operations to enhance security across the country.”
