Army bursts IPOB syndicate behind electoral violence in Enugu

The Nigerian Army says it has dislodged a syndicate of the Indigenous People of Biafra which disrupted the just concluded Local Government Council elections at some polling stations in Nkanu West of Enugu State.

This was contained in a statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, on Thursday.

According to Nwachukwu, the soldiers recovered seven AK 47 rifles, two Pump Action rifles, 10 rifle magazines, eight live cartridges, 74 live rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, one hand grenade, a tipper truck containing three corpses among other items around Centenary Estate Obeagu Uno.

The statement also said soldiers cleared criminal havens where IPOB members and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network, ESN, operate at Azia, Orsumoghu, Lilu Forest, Mbosi and Uli in Ihiala and Orsu Local Government Areas of Anambra and Imo States respectively.

“During the clearance operations, troops overpowered and routed the dissidents, who staged an ambush against the gallant troops. The troops then proceeded to clear Lilu Forest, where they were met with resistance from the outlawed group. The criminals were again over ran by the troops who effectively cleared Lilu Forest and the adjoining areas earlier occupied by the dissidents.

“During the clearance operations, the troops uncovered decomposing remains of kidnapped and murdered victims dumped in a deep well by members of the irredentist groups.

“While conducting the operations, the unrelenting troops encountered and cleared four ambush sites along roads Orsumoghu-Mbosi – Ihiala-Uli, dislodging the irredentists from their criminal havens.

“The gallant troops neutralized one of the criminals, arrested three suspects and recovered one Pump Action Shotgun,  two live Cartridges,  two mobile phones, One black coloured Toyota Hilux vehicle, a polythene bag containing substances suspected to be Cannabis and the sum of N1, 920,” the statement read in part.