The Nigerian army said the troops killed the wanted kingpin and arrested others during multiple operations in Nigeria’s south-east.
The Nigerian army says its troops have killed a suspected kingpin of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed militant wing Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Imo State, South-east Nigeria.
The army, in a statement on its Facebook page on Monday, said the troops killed the kingpin and arrested two other notorious terrorists during multiple raids of IPOB hideouts in the state.
It said the operations were conducted in collaboration with other security agencies.
The statement, however, did not identify the security operatives who took part in the operations.
Killing of the kingpin
The army said one of the operations was conducted at a suspected IPOB hideout in Ezeinyen Okwe Umucheke, a community in Onuimo Local Government Area of the state.
It said the operation was targeted at the suspected IPOB kingpin identified as Chinemerem, popularly known as “Bam Bam” in the community.
“The operation led to the neutralisation of Chinemerem, as he attempted to reach for his weapon and the arrest of several of his accomplices,” it said without giving details of the arrested accomplices.
“A substantial amount of weapons, ammunition, and IPOB/ESN paraphernalia were seized, and the hideout was subsequently destroyed.”
The statement said the troops subsequently intercepted other suspected IPOB/ESN members at another hideout in Ama Hausa in Okigwe Local Government Area of the state.
“Overpowered in the ensuing shootout, the (suspected) terrorists were forced to flee in disarray, abandoning a cache of ammunition and motorcycles,” it said.
Seventy-two rounds of 7.62 x 51mm NATO ammunition, four rounds of 7.62 mm (special), three rounds of 5.56mm, one FN rifle, a pair of military desert boots and one green beret were recovered from the hoodlums.
Peoplesmind