Troops capture IPOB/ESN commander Ezege, kill 2 fighters in Enugu

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Troops of Nigerian Army working with other security agencies have apprehended a notorious IPOB/ESN Commander, simply identified Mr Ezege, in a sting operation at Obinagu community of Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Ezege, recently threatened to unleash mayhem in Enugu state in viral video and audio message circulated on some social media platforms .

The arrest of the ESN Commander was announced in an update on activities of troops operating under the auspices of Operation UDO KA II, in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies against proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), elements in the South East Nigeria.

The security operatives also successfully raided IPOB/ESN hideouts of Imufu in Igbo-Eze North, Local Government Area of Enugu State, according to the update given in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Friday in Abuja.

According to him, two IPOB/ESN fighters were killed during the raid while the troops also recovered three Semi Automatic Pump Action Rifles and a locally-fabricated single barrel gun.

Nwachukwu said troops of 130 Battalion, operating in 13 Brigade Area of Responsibility under 82 Division, in collaboration with DSS operatives, also smashed a notorious syndicate of gun runners at Obudu in Cross River.

He said the operation followed credible intelligence revealing the illicit activities of the gun runners in Obudu and Biaju general areas.

He said the leader of the gun running syndicate was nabbed in the sting operation, alongside his accomplices comprising two Nigerians and two Cameroonians.

Nwachukwu said the preliminary investigations had revealed that the accomplices purchased firearms, which they in turn sell to a middle man, who supplies the arms and ammunition to Ambazonian Separatists in the Republic of Cameroon.

He added that a subsequent operation conducted on Thursday, led to the arrest of the gun running kingpin, Raphael, aka Biajua, a Cameroonian, at Biajua community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State.

According to him, the troops also recovered four Semi Automatic Pump Action Rifles and four mobile phones.

“The Nigerian Army enjoins the general public to remain vigilant and report any untoward activity to the security agencies, in support of ongoing operations to curb security challenges.

“The good and enterprising people of South East Nigeria are also encouraged to discountenance the illegal sit-at-home order and go about their daily activities and businesses without fear of intimidation, as ongoing operations will be sustained to counter the enforcement of the unlawful order,” he said. (NAN) (www.nanews.ng)

OYS/VAO