Troops dismantle armed group’s camps, kill many, rescue 14 in South-East

The Nigerian Army says its troops of 82 Division, and the Joint Task Force, South-East, code-named “Operation UDO KA” have dismantled camps of two armed groups operating within the South-East.

Acting Deputy Director, 82 Division, Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Enugu.

Unuakhalu said four members of the groups were eliminated while 14 persons held hostage by the groups were rescued.

He said the operation also led to the clamped down on the activities of illegal oil bunkers within its joint operation area.

According to him, in the early hours of Tuesday, Oct. 22, troops of Sector 5 of Operation UDO KA and other security agencies came in contact with the groups at Igbo Ukwu and Uga axis of Aguata council area of Anambra.

“During the fire fight, the troops’ superior firepower forced the criminals to flee in disarray.

“During the encounter, one member of the groups was neutralised, two black coloured Lexus Jeeps with no registration number and one pump action gun with three cartridges were recovered.

“On Monday, October 21, troops deployed at FOB Lilu also came in contact with the terrorist group after detonating the Improvise Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted along the supply route.

“The troops successfully neutralised two of the terrorists, recovered one pump action short gun, one solar CCTV camera, three large pipe-Borne IED, seven IEDs and eight batteries,” he said.

Unuakhalu added that troops of the Joint Task Force on Wednesday, Oct. 9, stormed one of the group’s hideout in the Enugwu Umuonyia community in Aguata council area of Anambra.

He said that the group members were overwhelmed in the ensuing firefight, as the terrorists fled, leaving behind a cache of arms and logistics.

The spokesman noted that in the same vein, on Oct. 10; troops of 82 Division carried out an ambush operation in Lilu community in Anambra to deter the irredentist freedom of action.

He said the troops also carried out similar operations in Ohafia LGA of Abia and Umu-Abor Lilu in Anambra where the troops successfully rescued an expatriate and three staff of DATUM Construction Company.