JTF’s Operation Udo Ka II Raids Four IPOB/ESN Camps

 •Recovers fresh, old corpses  

•Terrorists killed as air strikes hit Borno’s logistics base

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Tony Icheku in Owerri

The Troops of Joint Task Force South East ‘Operation UDO KA II’ has said it raided alleged four camps of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and it’s armed affiliates the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Ihube, Aku and Umulolo in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, on Sunday, 1 October 2023.

In another development, fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force struck the logistics base of terrorists in the Tumbuns on the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno State.

Spokesperson for the Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu, in a statement posted on his X account, stated that during the operation,  troops encountered Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) enroute the camps.

He also alleged that the camps were being used to perpetuate atrocities such as cannibalism, occultic practices and ritual killings to instil fears into the law abiding citizens.

According to him, “These were evident from many fresh and old corpses discovered while clearing the entire camps. Also The houses of the 2 spiritual leaders/herbalists that took to their heels were destroyed.

“Furthermore, the shrine of the wanted terrorist Amobi Chinoso Okafor AKA Temple, where human sacrifices are being made, was destroyed.”

The statement proffered that Joint Task Force neutralised two IPOB/ESN members while four were arrested.

It listed  Items recovered from the camps to include different denomination of the Biafra currencies, one new power bike, four motorcycles, solar panels. Others were POP cements and petroleum tanker suspected to have been hijacked from it’s owners

“Operation UDO KA II will continue combating crime and criminality in accordance with the extant rules and regulations guiding its operations. All law abiding and good citizens of the South-East region are enjoined to act against these devilish terrorists by providing timely, credible and reliable Information which will lead to ending the menace of insecurity occasioned by activities of the terrorist group in the region,” the statement counseled residents of the South-East region.

Meanwhile, a war update issued by the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, has said air strikes hit terror hideouts destroying the logistics base of the insurgents.

It said the air interdiction was undertaken following intelligence that showed the activities of terrorists in the locations constituted a threat to military formations and law-abiding Nigerians residing within the locations.

It said similar air strikes were also undertaken at Tumbun Shitu after structures believed to be terrorists’ hideouts were tucked under thick foliage.

“Terrorists hibernating in the Tumbuns on the fringes of Lake Tchad in Borno State were at the receiving end of NAF’s firepower as air strikes obliterated their hideouts, destroying their structures and strategic logistics base.

“Specifically, Tumbun Fulani and Tumbun Shitu were struck between 27-30 September 2023, when activities of terrorists in the locations were confirmed to have constituted a threat to military formations and law-abiding Nigerians residing within the locations,” it said. 

The update signed by NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, noted that, “At Tumbun Fulani, terrorists were observed loading jerricans in two guntrucks concealed under shrubs. Subsequently, NAF aircraft were scrambled to interdict the location, believed to be a major logistics base. After the strike, battle damage assessment revealed several terrorists were neutralised and the guntrucks destroyed.”

Additionally, three guntrucks with terrorists were sighted moving into the location.

“The need to strike the location thus became imperative. The aftermath of the air strike revealed several terrorists were neutralised and the trucks destroyed”, it said.