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The troops of Joint Task Force South-East Operation, code-named ‘Operation UDO KA II’, have carried out clearance operations within the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) associates’ hideouts in two council areas in Imo.

This is contained in an announcement issued on Friday in Enugu by Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, performing Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division of Nigerian Army, for the Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA II.

The clearance operations, the military stated, which occurred concurrently on Thursday, had been carried out on the Ihioma-Ihittenansa communities in Orsu Local Government Area and Okigwe-Umulolo communities in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo, respectively.

Unuakhalu stated the clearance operations aimed to establish and destroy potential camps of the fleeing IPOB, ESN terrorists, who’re killing and maiming in addition to extorting harmless residents of the South-East within the title of agitation.

According to him, through the simultaneous clearance operations, at Umulolo, one of many troops’ automobiles was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED); nonetheless, no causality was recorded.

“Troops also came in contact with the terrorists who fled into the nearby bushes with gunshot wounds due to superior firepower.

“Two suspects were arrested, and items recovered at Umulolo included; two locally-made guns, ammunition, one PKT machine gun barrel, one big locally made Rocket Propelled Launcher (Ogbunigwe) and IED-making materials.

“Others included, three CCTV cameras, two laptops and a charger, eight mobile phones, three boots, camouflage shorts, two motorcycles and a beret. Furthermore, three shrines used by the terrorists for fortification were destroyed,” he stated.

The military spokesman stated within the clearance operations/combating patrols alongside Road Ihioma -Ihittenansa in Orsu LGA, the troops additionally encountered IEDs, made shut contact and engaged in gun duels with some IPOB/ESN terrorists round Eketutu Market.

“The terrorists fled into the adjourning forests of Lilu and Mother Valleys with gunshot wounds on motorcycles.

“Troops also recovered two X CCTV cameras carefully concealed at the highest point in the area and some IED-making materials.

“Troops successfully cleared the terrorists from the Eketutu market,” he stated.

The military spokesman famous that Operation UDO KA II would proceed combating ritual killings, cannibalism, kidnapping for ransom and extortion of hardworking and law-abiding residents within the South-East.

“These terrorists, mostly the condemned criminals that escaped from Owerri Jail Breaks, are low lives that are being used by a criminal abroad to unleash mayhem on all of us.

“All should join in the fight to ensure these terrorists do not determine how we live our lives.

“Law abiding and good citizens of the South-East are enjoined to provide timely, credible and reliable information to end the insecurity in the region (Alaigbo),” he added.