The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of two soldiers following an attack by operatives of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The incident occurred on Friday at Osina in Ideator North Local Government Area of Imo State.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Nigerian Army revealed that the attack happened when troops from the 34 Artillery Brigade were returning from a routine patrol and responded to a distress call about an IPOB/ESN attack on Osina community.
The Army stated that its troops engaged the “terrorists” with overwhelming firepower, forcing the attackers to retreat in disarray.
While the Army did not disclose the number of casualties on the side of the IPOB/ESN operatives, it confirmed the loss of two soldiers and reported that weapons were carted away during the confrontation.
The Army described IPOB and its armed wing, ESN, as “dissidents” and reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace and security in the South-East region.
It stated, “Unfortunately, two security agents had been killed in action and one other missing in action and their weapons, an AK 47 Rifle and a Tear Gas Launcher were carted away by the terrorists.”
The statement noted that the corpses of the slain agents had been recovered, and the troops had proceeded in pursuit of the fleeing “terrorists”.
The statement added, “Contact was again made with the criminal IPOB/ESN elements at Nkwachi Community and in the firefight that ensued, one of the dissidents was neutralised while others who could not withstand the troop’s fire power ran into the nearby forest. One (1) AK-47 rifle with a fully loaded magazine was recovered.
“The unrelenting troops continued to pursue the remnant of the criminals deep into Umalouma forest where a heavy firefight further broke out. The dissidents finally abandoned their weapons due to troops’ superior fire power and scampered into the thickly forested area with severe gunshot injuries. An additional five (4) Ak – 47 rifles, one (1) Fabrique Nationale Rifle and five (2) Magazines were recovered. A total of six (5) AK 47 Rifles and a Tear Gas Launcher were recovered.
“Further exploitation is ongoing as troops will continue to trail the injured terrorists and smoke them out of their hideouts and places of treatment. We urge all IPOB/ESN irredentists and other criminal elements hiding in the bushes to surrender to the nearest troops’ location or meet their waterloo as troops of the Brigade will continue to ensure that Imolites celebrate the Yuletide Season in peace without fear or intimidation.
“The army in the statement appealed to the people of Imo State to continue to support the military by giving them timely intelligence on the hideouts and movements of the “terrorists to enable us rid the state of all criminality.”