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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
In a sustained effort to rid Nigeria of criminality, troops of 63 Bde Garrison under the auspices of 6 Division, Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services have destroyed an enclave of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Asaba, Delta State.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the troops in an ongoing clearance operation, conducted a raid operation on the fortified enclave located in the middle of a forested high ground in the early hours of Saturday.
“The gallant troops overpowered the IPOB fighters in the exchange of fire that followed the encounter, compelling them to abandon their hideout in disarray. The troops captured one of the fleeing fighters and recovered five AK 47 Rifles, three Pump Action Semi Automatic Rifles, one G3 Rifle and one single barrel gun. Other items recovered, include Live Cartridges, Electric Saw, Machetes, an Axe and IPOB flag.
“The troops have destroyed the enclave and are exploiting the forest in pursuit of the fleeing fighters,” Nwachukwu said.
The army spokesperson said Tlthe Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, commended the troops and other security agencies for their effort in the ongoing operations and charged them to sustain the momentum to restore sanity in the region.