To rid Nigeria of terrorism, and insecurity, and restore peace, and order in the country, the combined troops of Operation UDOKA with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Security Service (DSS), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on Thursday, March 7, 2024, conducted a raid/clearance operation on the IPOB/ESN violent extremists/terrorists in Mother Valley, Orsu LGA of Imo State.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, on Sunday, March 10, 2024.
According to him, “the team cleared about 50 IPOB/ESN hideout tents in the valley including terrorists Supreme Headquarters and their Command-and-Control Centre as well as its Military Council Headquarters.
“Troops also, cleared Buteuzor’s hideout/residence office, logistic base, temple, and shrine. The hideouts were well concealed with foliage that afforded the criminals cover from air surveillance to prevent monitoring and detection.”
Describing the discoveries made during the operation, Gen. Buba, said “the Valley had sufficient power supply for the camps. The terrorists hibernated there, reared animals, and also owned farms to be self-sustaining to live and fight.
“During the operations, troops also encountered several command IEDs and ditches along the axis of the camp. All were detonated and ditches were covered with excavators before reaching the camp. The location is identified to be the supreme headquarters, command, and control centre as well as the Military Council Headquarters of IPOB/ESN.
“Troops made contact with terrorists. Following a firefight, troops neutralized 20 terrorists and recovered several quantities of assorted weapons such as G3 rifles, AK47 rifles, auto pump action guns, double barrel guns, locally made pistols, and RPG bombs.
“Troops also recovered assorted ammunition which included 226 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 216 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 172 live cartridges, 4 AK47 magazines, and 3 G3 magazines. Other items recovered include several quantities of IEDs (OGBUNIGWE), POS devices, baofeng radios, mobile phones, handheld IEDs, CCTV cameras, inverters, and batteries. Additional items include Biafra flags amongst others.
“Troops destroyed all camps, hideouts, and shrines in the location. The location was also littered with shallow graves indicative of Idol worshipping and ritual killings. The ritual killings at the camp account for the several cases of missing persons in the region.
“The recovered items are being processed and analysed for their intelligence value. Nevertheless, troops are sustaining the momentum and going in pursuit of the terrorist and their cohorts, dislodging them from their enclaves.”
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