In a related development the Defence Headquarters(DHQ), said troops on internal security operations in the South East raided some hideouts of the Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) fighters in Abia State.
The intelligence-based operations, according to the Director of Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Edward Buba, led to the arrest of over 100 suspects and discovery and destruction of several IPOB/ESN camps across the South East region, including Igboro Forest in Arochukwu, known for harbouring IPOB/ESN fighters.
Gen. Buba said all the arrested IPOB fighters who are currently in custody, have been assisting the military to locate other camps and individuals involved in the brutal attack.
He said: “Several arrests were made from the raids, with those found to be culpable still in detention. Troops also released those not culpable in the attack, following preliminary investigations. Surely, there is intelligence value to the raids and arrests that were made. Those in detention are assisting troops to locate other camps, sleeper cells and high profile individuals involved in the activities of the terrorists group.”
Buba, at a media briefing on updates on military and security agencies’ operations conducted across the country in the last two weeks, said: “During the week under review, troops neutralised 197 and arrested 310 persons. Troops also arrested 22 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 251 kidnapped hostages. In the South-South, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated N765,654,100.00 only.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 180 assorted weapons and 5,123 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: 2 PKT guns, one fabricated arty gun, one G3 rifle, 73 AK47 rifles, 17 locally fabricated guns, 21 dane guns, two pump action guns, two revolver rifles, one short dane gun, three double barrel guns, three single barrel guns, one pistol, four locally fabricated pistols, five fabricated beretta pistols, one beretta pistol, one jojef magnum pump action gun, one Exp 64 semi auto rifle, 10 hand grenades, three 60mm mortar bombs, bandoliers and 10 fabricated arty bombs.
“Others are: 3,207 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,022 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 13 rounds of 9mm ammo, 243 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 240 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, 132 rounds of 5.56 x 54mm ammo, 143 live cartridges, 59 magazines, one pistol magazine, one ECOME HH radio, four baofeng radios, four vehicles, 47 motorcycles, 21 mobile phones and N1,236,200.00, as well as CFA 608,000.00 only among other items.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 29 dugout pits, 22 boats and 26 storage tanks. Other items recovered included 66 cooking ovens, 85 drums, eight vehicles, three mobile phones and 43 illegal refining sites.
“Troops equally recovered 728,360 litres of stolen crude oil, 143,450 litres of illegally refined AGO, 1,100 litres of DPK and 18,750 litres of PMS.”