What Happened When Police Raided IPOB, ESN Hideout In Rivers

Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) members are still licking their wounds following a raid on their hideouts, by security personnel.

The raid which was carried out by troops of 6 Division Garrison, Port Harcourt and 29 Battalion in conjunction with other security agencies left seven IPOB members dead and several others injured.

The Eagle reports that the IPOB had ordered a sit at home order for the Southeast for Sunday, but hardly anticipating the raid of their stronghold at Agbomchia Forest in Oyigbo Council Area of Rivers State.

Director Army Public Relations Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, via a statement said:  “troops of 6 Division Garrison, Port Harcourt and 29 Battalion in conjunction with operatives of Nigerian Police, DSS, and NSCDC on Thursday, 27 May 2021, conducted a Clearance/Raid Operation at suspected IPOB/ESN enclaves at Agbomchia Forest along Pipeline Road Ogali/Komkom Boundary between Eleme and Oyigbo LGA’s of Rivers State.

“In the firefight that ensued during the Clearance/Raid Operation, 7 IPOB/ESN members were neutralized while 5 suspects arrested.

“Various items belonging to the criminals including arms and ammunition were also recovered by the security forces. The camp was promptly destroyed while suspects and corpses were handed over to the Police for further actions.”

“There was no casualty on own troops and other security operatives as they have returned back to base in high morale.

“The Nigerian Army urges members of the public to always avail the troops with accurate and timely information that will help in tracking down and neutralise the so-called Unknown Gunmen (UGM) who are terrorizing the region.”

The development has sent counter signals to neighbouring Eastern states where the IPOB and ESN  sit-at-home order has been a source of worry.

Some residents have been calling up relations to update them on the development, many expressing fear.

 IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, had called on the five Eastern states to stock food items ahead of the order, and a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report shows residents of Abakaliki expressing concern over the development.

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Some of the residents, who spoke in separate interviews with the NAN on Saturday in Abakaliki, said that the sit-at-home was worrisome, especially in this period of harsh economy in the country.