In a joint operation, the 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, the Police, and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) successfully neutralized two suspected fighters from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) during a fierce encounter in the Fuji Junction general area in Asaba, Delta State. The operation also resulted in the arrest of five other individuals connected to the armed group.
According to Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the spokesman of the army, the encounter was triggered by distress calls reporting an attack on the community by the group. The combined troops acted swiftly and responded to the calls, overpowering the terrorists with their superior firepower. Two of the attackers were killed during the firefight, while the remaining members fled to a hideout around Okpanam river.
The determined troops pursued the fleeing criminals to their enclave in a house near Okpanam river, where they were successfully apprehended. As a result of the operation, the security forces recovered significant weapons, including an AK 47 Rifle, a Pump Action Semi-Automatic Rifle, 15 live cartridges, an AK 47 Rifle Magazine, and a Baofeng Radio Receiver.
The military has commended the joint effort of the troops and urged them to sustain the collaborative approach in restoring peace and tranquility to the region. They also called on the public to continue supporting the security agencies by providing actionable information to tackle security challenges effectively.
